FedEx spoke out after a Black worker claimed he and a coworker were fired for posting a video of a confrontation with a white customer.
In the video, a driver is seen arguing with a white customer who allegedly threatened him and his coworker after they’d delivered a package. The incident occurred on Tuesday, May 19 in Leesburg, Georgia.
Antonio Braswell, who seemed to be inside the truck recording the encounter, recalled the experience in a Twitter thread. “All we did just delivered his package mind you he was in the house it was quick stop as soon we were leaving he ran out his house cursing and threatening us and we just apologized but he kept escalating the situation then kept saying he would whoop out black a–es.”
Braswell claims the irate customer began to follow them while also recording a video with his cell phone after they’d first driven away. The customer, Braswell wrote, also instructed his wife to call the police.
Braswell’s co-worker took issue with the way the man spoke to him and pointed that out.
“You didn’t have to come out there cussing me like that, like I’m some child,” the driver said in the video. “I ain’t no little boy!”
The driver also declared he would wait for the police to arrive at the scene. After a few tense moments, the driver got back in his work vehicle and left.
“Where you going?” the white man asked.
“Man, I’m ain’t finna waste my time with you,” the worker said as he entered the truck. “You got my information. They’ll find me.”
As the employee started to drive away, the man reminded him of his earlier promise.
“I thought you were waiting for the cops,” the man said.
“I thought you were going to whoop my a– too,” the worker responded.
According to Braswell, after the police arrived the man claimed he feared for his wife’s safety.
“After the video, the police came and we told our side of the story & the man said to the police ‘they look like they would’ve broke into my house while my wife is there.’ The white dude was lying the whole time,” Braswell wrote.
He claims FedEx got wind of the video and fired him and his co-worker. The video was originally posted the day it happened, but the original tweet was deleted.
“FedEx called and told me to take down this video and fired both of us today,” Braswell explained. “I’m reposting this video because people like him doesn’t matter white or any race should never disrespect essential workers putting their lives in jeopardy especially with this COVID-19.”
Braswell continued to offer background of the incident with follow up tweets.
“So we stop the truck and that’s when i started recording the incident.. after the video the police came and we told our side of the story & the man said to the police “they look like they would’ve broke into my house while my wife is there” the white dude was lying the whole time,” he tweeted.
Another tweet read, “Mind y’all we go through this all the time he was the first to actually come at us crazy and all we doing is our job we Work 6 days out the week to deliver these packages during this coronavirus going on”
The news upset the workers’ supporters.
“You expect your employees to take racism and like it, all so they can sell their souls for a paycheck?” one person tweeted. “Time to take a really good look as to who I’m giving my money to.”
“You stood up to a Kevin who called the manager and then got fired. Why is it that white people get away with everything and minorities always suffer the consequences?” questioned another critic.
“@FedEx is extremely wrong for firing these gentlemen. As Blck and Brown people we have a duty and a right to expose blatant racism in this country!!” wrote another. “Y’all should be praising these men for doing their jobs and holding composure after being threatened”
However, FedEx claims they did not fire the men because they weren’t employed with them in the first place. The pair worked as third-party contractors and were terminated by their home company.
The company offered to put the two workers on their payroll while they investigated the incident.
“We are aware of the incident in GA that led to the release of two drivers employed by a service provider,” FedEx tweeted. “We’re offering employment while investigating to ensure an appropriate outcome. We take seriously allegations of discrimination, retaliation, or improper employment actions.”
