
Source: Antonio Blackwell / Screencap
A pair of Black men who were working on behalf of FedEx in Georgia filmed an argument between them and a white customer that racially profiled them while they were simply doing their jobs. According to FedEx, the men were not fired by the company and are actually independent contractors, while an activist group started a GoFundMe on behalf of the men.
Antonio Blackwell shared a video via Twitter of the exchange between him and the customer after he and another man dropped off packages to a customer’s residence in Leesburg, Ga. According to the GoFundMe page, Blackwell and his coworker were threatened by the customer, who began filming them on camera prompting them to do the same in return.
From the GoFundMe page started by GAFollowers:
All we did was deliver his package, he was in the house at the time. It was a quick stop and as soon as we were leaving he ran out his house cursing and threatening us. While we were looking confused we just apologized for being on his yard but he keep going on then kept saying he would whoop our black asses and then he told his wife to call the cops. That’s when he pulled out his phone playing victim and that’s when I recorded. Idk what the police did but I posted this video because we go through racism everyday on that route in Leesburg but he was the first one to actually come up and actually threaten us.
Adding a new wrinkle to this story, FedEx issued a statement via Twitter regarding the incident and said that the workers were actually hired by a third party working on behalf of the delivery service.
“We are aware of the incident in GA that led to the release of two drivers employed by a service provider. We’re offering employment while investigating to ensure an appropriate outcome. We take seriously allegations of discrimination, retaliation, or improper employment actions,” FedEx said in the tweet.
As the #BoycottFedEx trend grows and the GoFundMe moving at a rapid clip, folks on Twitter are asking FedEx pointed questions as to why they haven’t addressed the service provider that hired the men or taking a bolder stance on behalf of workers risking their health to get packages to people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GAFollowers says it will split the money raised between Blackwell and the other gentleman Felinzay, whose last name hasn’t been shared.
Check out the reactions below from Twitter.
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Photo: Screencap/Twitter/GoFundMe
1.
1. Two black delivery men drop off a package
— Gord Macey (@GordMacey) May 20, 2020
2. Crazy white racist comes out saying he’s gonna whip their asses
3. The men record video of the incident and post it
4. FedEx fires both men for posting video
5. This could have been another Ahmaud Arbery#BoycottFedEx
2.
When a Fedex truck pulls up to your house, and a person in a Fedex uniform is approaching your door, guess what they're doing...DELIVERING A FUCKING PACKAGE! This driver did nothing wrong. #BoycottFedEx https://t.co/5bSnDIiEbP
— Shay 🇺🇸 (@ShadyPlanes) May 21, 2020
3.
Fire the people who fired them and we can talk.
— Benjamin Dixon (@BenjaminPDixon) May 21, 2020
4.
I hope they sue this company for wrongful termination.
— Trump Crime Family lost the Election!!! (@Shunall2) May 21, 2020
5.
The fact that the initial response was to fire the drivers WITHOUT a careful look at the details speaks volumes about your culture. Can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.
— Eb🍩d (@BrownMaaamba) May 21, 2020
6.
It's a shame that it took a video going viral for you to do.the right thing. Delivering a package should not make your employee feel unsafe or demeaned and when it happened, you didn't have their back. Very disappointed in that.
— Marshmellymel (@marshmellymel) May 21, 2020
7.
You all shouldn’t have fired them in the first place, but instead you chose to enable people like King Karen!
— Allana McInnis (@allanamcinnis) May 21, 2020
8.
— O_o (@AintShet) May 21, 2020
9.
The people who decided to fire them need to be fired. And the workers in this video need to be given raises.
— aspects.em (@EmilyForkel) May 21, 2020
10.
a fedex driver was threatened and harassed in what’s very clearly a racist confrontation. fedex responded by firing the driver and the trainee who was with him. despicable move on the part of @fedex who clearly have no respect for their workers and do not adequately protect them https://t.co/VcnmhzEnYe
— Mary Ellen (@alissacaliente) May 20, 2020
11.
Me when the spokesperson at FedEx tries to come with some bullshit excuse #BoycottFedEx pic.twitter.com/53G8c14ACm
— Shane Doe (@doe_412) May 21, 2020
12.
I wonder how much FedEx paid Twitter to make #BoycottFedEx disappear from the trending topics? pic.twitter.com/oX52lxM3UV
— The Kurgan (@TheKurgan316) May 21, 2020
13.
FedEx, that’s wrong what y’all did to them workers, wrongfully terminating them because they’re doing their job while bigots like him disrespecting him because they’re doing their jobs. Racism exists because of bigots like him. Not cool #BoycottFedEx https://t.co/mspHXmQDVT
— Giovanni Brooks On Grind Mode (@Giovanni_Brooks) May 21, 2020
14.
Every day black people go out into the world.
— Ms. Butterflyyy 💕 float like 🦋 sting like a🐝 (@MsButterflyyy) May 21, 2020
Just living their lives.
They’re attacked & persecuted for the color of their skin.
So tired of white people saying “oh, they always have to bring race into it.”
No.
It’s THIS.
You won’t let us forget.
Fix this #FedEx‼️ https://t.co/xNYUBI3AzM
15.
Fuck You FedEx! #BoycottFedEx https://t.co/bJwZhMVcj0
— BigLipShawty 💋 (@reneebabyyyy1) May 21, 2020