Meme of Obama in a noose gets executive fired, Tennessee tech company says
An executive at a local software firm in Tennessee is now jobless after sharing a racist meme showing former President Barack Obama with his head in a noose.
Chattanooga-based company Transcard found itself at the center of controversy and calls to fire its vice president after the “atrocious” image appeared on Facebook over the weekend, local station FOX 17 reported.
The post, allegedly shared by former information technology VP Gary Casper, has since been removed. However, screenshots taken and shared by social media sleuths showed the meme of the former president with a noose around his neck. The post was accompanied by a caption that read, “#PayPerView.”
McClatchy News has chosen not to show the offensive image, but you can see it on the Alabama NCAAP’s Facebook page here.
Amid the firestorm, Casper’s page was deleted and no longer searchable — as were the social media accounts of other company executives, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Chris Fuller, the president and CEO of TransCard, told the newspaper that making political statements online is a violation of the company’s social media policy.
U.S. Code 18 § 879 also forbids “willful threats to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm against” former presidents, their immediate family and others under the protection of the U.S. Secret Service, according to Cornell Law. Violators can be fined and face up to five years in prison.
“As soon as Transcard realized that an employee was utilizing social media to engage in political speech, it took immediate action to terminate its relationship with such person,” Fuller told the FreePress.
A similar message was posted to the company’s Facebook page on Sunday stating that “views reflected in posts made by individuals do not reflect the views or values of Transcard.”
“This issue is being handled according to company policy,” the statement read. “The individual of recent concern is no longer employed with the company. Thank you for your concern.”
News of Casper’s firing was cheered by social media users who applauded Transcard for its swift action.
“Thank you for taking quick and decisive action. I only hope he didn’t express these views while at work, thereby providing a deplorable leadership example to your staff,” one Facebook user wrote.
“I am also glad to see the company has responded to this atrocity,” wrote another. “It is unimaginable to see this image in our country. Thank you for addressing this in a definitive manner, showing this is unacceptable.”
One user thanked Transcard for firing the VP, adding that he hoped there was “no severance pay.”
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Meme of Obama in a noose gets executive fired, Tennessee tech company says."