As expected, comments about the firing of former Greensboro Fire Department Capt. Dustin Jones dominated the monthly public forum at the June 6 Greensboro City Council meeting.
If the comments proved anything, it is that the community is deeply divided over this issue.
Before the public forum began, Mayor Nancy Vaughan reading a prepared statement stating that the City Council only had two employees – the city manager and the city attorney – and did not have access to the personnel records of other city employees that were not available to the public. She also said that the City of Greensboro had strict social media policies and that statements about race, religion and protected classes may not be protected speech under the First Amendment.
The letter from City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba upholding the termination of Jones lists five recent posts on Jones’ personal Facebook page and states, “The net effect of these posts is to dehumanize, delegitimize, disparage and disrespect those who are different from you. Organizational culture is defined in large part by what behaviors are tolerated. We simply cannot tolerate this type of behavior from a leader of this organization.”
Steve Wall, a speaker in favor of Jones, was interrupted by someone in the audience shouting “F—- you, facist.” That person was removed from the meeting. Vaughan said, “I will remove any person with an outburst like that and, Mr. City Attorney, I certainly think we should be able to bar him from the next meeting.”
Several of those speaking in support of the firing and of Jaiyeoba denying the appeal said the posts were “homophobic and transphobic.” They questioned whether Jones would protect members of the LGBTQ community and said that having someone with those views working for the Fire Department made them feel unsafe.
One speaker said that while the Facebook posts were made off duty, he did “not believe that those beliefs would not bleed into the workplace environment.”
Several of those who spoke in support of Jones noted that they had been threatened on the way into the meeting and said that they had not seen complaints about the way that Jones had done his job as a firefighter.
Most of the people that yell out “You Facist” , act like one……….
In the current social, political and what-have-you environment, smart people just keep their opinions to themselves unless they are operating within a group of likeminded family, friends and associates. Social media has been the downfall of many good persons; I avoid it like the plague.
It’s a shame that minorities are allowed to do and say whatever they wish and push their agenda onto the majority, mostly without consequences.
But that what the Left is trying to do, cow us into silence. Like the Nazis in the 20’s & 30’s, they intimidate those who dare to disagree and oppose them. We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated. We are in the right, and they are in the wrong. We represent good; they represent evil. And all that is required for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing. So we must speak out, loud and clear, in every way, on every occasion.
Austin Morris – Obviously, you don’t understand plain English. I didn’t advocate being silent; just not speaking when one’s words will have severe consequences ( losing one’s job), when those who pull your strings have already warned you not to continue talking.
“Smart people just keep their opinions to themselves…” – FJB. That’s what you wrote, right?
I disagree.
I believe it is incumbent on us to speak up, on every issue,on every occasion. The Left must be made to realise the scale of the opposition they are facing, or they will roll over us.
And “Dave” agrees, it seems.
Amen !
The. one who should be fired is the city manager. Shame on the city council for putting up with this woke tyranny.
This is ABSOLUTE and TOTAL RACISM!!!! The only thing that matters is how he does his job!!! Mayor, you have only two employees and YOU can’t even handle two employees. If he were white this would not be an issue. Things are going to get worse and we ALL will be effected in a very negative way.
“The net effect of this termination of a respected employee is to dehumanize, delegitimize, disparage and disrespect those who are different from the political leaning of Greensboro City Council. Organizational culture is defined in large part by what behaviors are tolerated. We simply cannot tolerate this type of behavior from a leader of this organization.”
It is unbelievable that the Mayor and City Council would allow a public discussion of a former employee at an open forum. If I were Captain Jones, I would add slander to any legal action considered. Holding Captain Jones up to ridicule and potential harm from false accusations that his Facebook posts are homophobic and transphobic, if untrue, is slander because of the action that befell Captain Jones. According to the city manager, Captain Jones was fired because of his Facebook posts, therefore, he has suffered because the city manager publicly spoke about his firing and caused the slander to be lodged against Captain Jones. Captain Jones denies that he is homophobic and transphobic. An opinion of current events and cultural issues does not make anyone homophobic and/or transphobic. If a person believes homosexual acts are sinful, that belief does not make the person homophobic. The person could believe “live and let live” but continue to believe sodomy is sinful. The city of Greensboro opened the gate for Captain Jones to be slandered by the thought police. The city and anyone else who participated in the slander should be held accountable.
The city manager has attended too many seminars on corporate governance. His use of organizational culture is straight out of a seminar presenter’s playbook. How unimaginative and boring. Using organizational culture to determine what behavior will be tolerated is subjective and depends on many factors that are not directly related to behavior. Plato’s ship of fools.
Just curious. What type of repercussion will those get for yelling “F—you, Fascist”? Is this not tit for tat? Will they be fired from their jobs also? Will they be barred from future city meetings? Or do they get a slap on the hand or a high five?
Why should those who yelled, “F—- you, fascist,” be treated any differently than those who said that Capt. Jones’s “posts were ‘homophobic and transphobic.?’” Both could be considered slander and misinformation depending on one’s point of view. It’s obvious that close to 50% of this country, give or take, (as observed most recently in Glendale CA) have one view or the other.
The fact of the matter is the person who said this should have been arrested, charged with disorderly conduct and taken to jail. BUT NO! not in Vaughn’s meeting. Absolutely ridiculous.
One of this countries pillars of freedom is free speech. I have not read in the he constitution that the can be withheld as a price of employment .
NC is a right to work state. Yes, an employee can be fired for Facebook posts. However, free speech should be a trump card.
How dare he exercise his 1st Amendment rights and state his personal opinion! What does he think he is, an American citizen?
(snark off) If the standard for government employees, at any level, is you are not allowed to express your personal opinion on ANY subject, then this country has taken a giant step towards socialism/totalitarianism.
“They questioned whether Jones would protect members of the LGBTQ community and said that having someone with those views working for the Fire Department made them feel unsafe.” This statement should make everyone be afraid…be very afraid. This statement calls into question the integrity of Capt. Dustin Jones and is an act of slander against him IMO. This is a one of many usual tactics used by this arm of the (National Socialist) Democrat Party.
Heil Big Brother, Heil The State, Down with Freedom
Since I own the company, I can’t be fired for the following post:
How is it possible to “delegitimize” a trans woman? Every video or photo of an athletic award ceremony where the trans woman is the victor, by a very large margin I might add, it is the trans who appears taller, bulkier more masculine. Obviously a man trying to be a woman, is not legitimately a woman. The act of “delegitimizing” is nothing more than pointing out the obvious. Or answering the kid’s question: which thing is NOT like the others?
It is really a shame that a person can lose their job for refusing to play along with the ruse.
Dead right, Ken. The mass insanity that has permeated the Left is akin to all the sycophants who praised the beauty and quality of the Emperor’s new clothes. Those on the Right can think for themselves, and exclaim “The Emperor has no clothes!”.
Leftists are mentally ill.
Exercising my 1st Amendment rights-
What is the LGBTQ community afraid of ? Certainly not calling names (yelling “F—you, Fascist”), expressing their 1st amendment rights with there own opinions (homophobic and transphobic) on Facebook, in public and in city council chambers. To question IF Captain Jones would risk his life to save someone of the LGBTQ community is totally ridiculous. He took an oath and has abides by this oath.
How are the LGBTQ community members allowed to express their opinions and Captain Jones is not? Council Hightower is constantly stated her racial bias but nothing is done to her, why?
Quickly Understanding Every Exemplified Racist-
We all have the right to love who we want without judgement. We all have the right to agree/disagree with each other. We all have the right to speak freely without interference from Government.
Unfortunately this does not apply in Greensboro, NC.