A FedEx worker in Georgia says he and a co-worker, both African American, were fired after posting a confrontation with a white customer after delivering a package to his home.
The incident, which took place in Leesburg, which sits about halfway between Atlanta and Tallahassee, Florida, was recorded by the co-worker and shows the driver arguing with the customer.
The alleged threats were not captured on the video, but the worker, identified by Newsweek as Antonio Braswell, said in a Twitter post that the customer was combative to him and the other man who was not identified, and said FedEx terminated them both.
He wrote that the two men were just doing their jobs when they were verbally hit by the unidentified customer, who is white.
“As soon we were leaving he ran out his house cursing and th-reatening us and we just apologized,” Braswell said. “But he kept escalating the situation then kept saying he would whoop out black a**es.”
He said in subsequent tweets that he told his wife to call the cop on them, but he started recording what happened. When cop arrived, they told their side of the story, but said the individual told cop “they look like they would’ve broke into my house while my wife is there.”
Update FedEx called and told me to take down this video and fired both of us Today .. I’m reposting this video because people like him doesn’t matter white or any race should never disrespect essential workers putting their lives in jeopardy especially with this covid-19 pic.twitter.com/Fw0S5gNRso
— antonio braswell (@Toniob38) May 20, 2020
However, FedEx said that it did not terminate the two men, who were actually employed by an independent service provider that is “no longer providing service” for the company.
It did say the two men were offered employment.
So we stop the truck and that’s when i started recording the incident.. after the video the police came and we told our side of the story & the man said to the police “they look like they would’ve broke into my house while my wife is there” the white dude was lying the whole time
— antonio braswell (@Toniob38) May 20, 2020
“We are aware of the incident in GA that led to the release of two drivers employed by a service provider,” FedEx said in a statement. “We’re offering employment while investigating to ensure an appropriate outcome. We take seriously allegations of discrimination, retaliation, or improper employment actions.”
Until FedEx issues an apology to the two African American drivers it fired and offers them their jobs back, my company Cool Quit will not be using FedEx to deliver our medications and medical devices to our patients and will instead use USPS and other mail carriers. #BoycottFedEx
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) May 21, 2020
The two men have a GoFundMe account set up on their behalf by a Georgia resident that has raised $51,000 so far.
Meanwhile, a new social media hashtag #BoycottFedEx has been spreading to support the workers. Many are saying they will no longer use the company’s services.
This article was originally published on the bet.com
