New Jersey, US: A corrections officer who took part in a counter-protest to a BLM demonstration in which people reenacted the death of George Floyd was let off from work after the footage of the act went viral online.
In the recording, demonstrators walk along a street in Gloucester County, while shouting “George Floyd!” and “Black Lives Matter!” It also shows them being escorted by local police while passing a private estate selling wood.
At one point a protestor captures the moment a man kneels on the neck of another shouting back at demonstrators, who then shout back at them.
The video has been widely shared on social media around the world.
A FedEx employee was fired and a New Jersey corrections officer was suspended after a video showed a counterprotest that appeared to mock George Floyd’s death. https://t.co/4NGba1WWRZ pic.twitter.com/P0DPIRGwWj
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 11, 2020
Since the senseless death of George Floyd, protests have been raging across the US, some of which have turned into violent riots and lootings.
A number of people have also died as a result.
The New Jersey Department of Corrections made a statement following the Monday incident saying that they were made aware that one of their officers took part in the filming of a “hateful and disappointing video that mocked the killing of George Floyd.”
“The individual has been suspended from their post and banned from NJDOC facilities pending a thorough and expedited investigation,” the statement said.
It is unclear who works for the department by looking at the footage.
Another person who can be seen in the video is a FedEx employee and has since been fired, a company spokesperson told The Courier Post.
In a recent statement, Mayor John Bruno and Police Chief Brian Zimmer said they were “appalled and saddened by the revolting actions of certain individuals.”
NBC Washington reportedly called multiple phone numbers listed for the property where the counterprotest was taking place, but the news station could not get through anyone.
What are your thoughts on the madness currently going on in the United States? Let us know by joining the conversation in the comments and please share this article if you’ve found it informative.
