A Danvers student and local sandwich shop employee is under fire after reportedly publishing a racist comment on his Twitter account, in regard to Wednesday night's Bruins game.
The Beverly teenager, who attends St. John's Prep, was among several upset Bruins fans who tweeted racist remarks after the game. The teen reportedly wrote on his Twitter feed "You guys let the n****r score? #imdone," according to an article on Deadspin.com.
The attack was in response to the Washington Capitals' Joel Ward scoring the winning goal to defeat the Boston Bruins in game 7.
"As a school community, St. John’s Prep stands against racism in any form, and we are deeply disturbed by the remarks posted online following the Bruins game on Wednesday, April 25," SJP Director of Communications Elizabeth Forbes told Danvers Patch. "In keeping with school disciplinary policies, we are investigating the matter at this time."
The 17-year-old was subsequently fired from his position at a Danvers sandwich shop.
"Please rest assured that the racist comments made [by] a former employee do not reflect the beliefs of the rest of my employees or myself," the sandwich shop's owner stated on their Facebook account. "I have fired the individual and he is no longer associated with our sandwich shop."
The teen's Twitter account was suspended or deactivated.
Joe B.
1:12 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Not that I support racism in any form, but isn't firing someone for exercising their free speech a foolish endeavor? It's no different than if he tweeted something pro life or choice. If the kid was an otherwise good employee, then the shop owner could end up in a wrongful termination suit. Then again, it's a sandwich shop, so probably not.
bj roberts
1:31 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012
No one was fired for exercising free speech. They were fired because employers in Massachusetts, like all at-will states, can fire any employee at any time for any reason — or even for no reason at all.
Eric S.
1:16 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Free speech includes the words: You're Fired
Joe B.
1:29 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
I didn't mean to imply otherwise, but how would you feel if you knew your employer would fire you if you said something in a non-official role (like, a personal twitter account) that he/she didn't agree with? It's easy to point and say that this kid said something racist and was clearly in the wrong, but what if the shop owner was atheist and the kid said something religious? Would that still be as cut and dry? I just feel like this has a moderate chance to come back and bite the shop owner, considering how sue happy people can be these days.
Leroy Le Roi
3:43 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Isn't it illegal to fire someone for their (albeit disgusting) racial views if it doesn't affect the job directly?
bj roberts
1:34 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Nope. Not in at-will states.
Km
9:59 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
MA is an employment at will state. The owner cannot get in trouble for firing this guy. I would have done the same thing.
Km
10:01 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
His comments could hurt business at the shop. He was not fired based on his race or religion. He was fired for being an idiot. People are fired for less every day.
Joe B.
6:29 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Right, I always check the twitter feeds of every employee of every establishment I eat at to make sure I agree with everything they say. /s
bj roberts
1:33 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Most times the Twitter feed of the employees don't become the center of a media storm. This one did. The sandwich shop had nothing to gain and everything to lose by keeping this clearly immature kid on staff.
Max
1:25 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Good reminder. In most cases you are an "employee at will". No contract. buh bye.