- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Boxers or Briefs? Cop Fired for Wearing Confederate Flag Underwear

© Facebook/Shannon DildineBoxers or Briefs? Cop Fired for Wearing Confederate Flag Underwear
Boxers or Briefs? Cop Fired for Wearing Confederate Flag Underwear - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Since an image of Sgt. Shannon Dildine, of the North Charleston Police Department in South Carolina, wearing nothing but battle flag boxers went viral, the officer has been terminated from his employment.

It was only a couple months ago that the North Charleston police made headlines when Officer Michael Slager shot and killed Walter Scott, who was black and unarmed, during a traffic stop.  The killing came at a time when much of the country is discussing the role of racism in policing.

Battle of the Battleflag: States Move to Dissociate from Confederate Banner - Sputnik International
Battle of the Battleflag: States Move to Dissociate from Confederate Banner

Now, race is at the forefront of a discussion about the Confederate flag following an act of racially motivated terrorism at a church in Charleston, which left nine people at a bible study dead.  

While the flags are being pulled from retailers and removed from government buildings, citing the racial undertones and hatred it represents, some are clinging to the flag even harder to proudly proclaim their beliefs.

One of those people was Dildine, who took to social media to proclaim that he doesn’t care who he offends, posting the photo in his underwear.

"Your posting in this manner led to you being publicly identified as a North Charleston Police officer and associated both you and the Department with an image that symbolizes hate and oppression to a significant portion of the citizens we are sworn to serve," Police Chief Eddie Driggers wrote in a termination letter to the sergeant on Thursday.

Apple's choice to remove historical civil war games featuring the symbol from its App store is drawing criticism as an example of poorly-thought-out overkill. - Sputnik International
Overkill? Apple Pulls American Civil War Games Featuring Confederate Flag

The chief also stated his concern that Dildine’s proud display of what is widely considered a symbol of hatred and racism may call into question the motivation of any arrests Dildine has made of a person of color, "since defense counsel can reasonably be expected to use the photograph to call into question the [sic] your motivation in making the arrest…"

Driggers continued on to write that "some say the flag emblem may have different meanings to different people, but your personal beliefs are irrelevant to the City's decision to terminate your employment.”

Dildine has 10 days to appeal the decision.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала