An employee from Burger King who got fired after saying “Free Palestine” to an Israeli customer in a Pennsylvania restaurant has gotten more than $100,000 via crowdfunding on the Internet. The incident occurred at a Burger King outlet in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, when a customer named Rami Feinstein, an American citizen who claimed he was born in Israel, came there to buy food for his family.
How is saying “free - [insert literally anything]” able to be construed as “hate speech?” Oh maybe “hating” genocide is offensive to those who believe in genocide? Such a sick bastardization of the concept of antisemitism to apply it in support of international war crimes.
While what the employee said would not qualify as hate speech here in Canada, it could very well result in discipline or firing here as well. Here in Canada at least, there is a difference between expressing yourself outside of the work environment and doing so within it. When in a work environment, you will be seen as speaking on behalf of your employer or organization, not as an individual. Free speech is therefore constrained when at work, especially at a public service job. This has become an issue in libraries where a staff member working a public desk may want to express themselves by wearing a t-shirt or button with a slogan that some may embrace and may offend others.
How is saying “free - [insert literally anything]” able to be construed as “hate speech?” Oh maybe “hating” genocide is offensive to those who believe in genocide? Such a sick bastardization of the concept of antisemitism to apply it in support of international war crimes.
Well hope that burger king burns down
Saying, “free Palestine” isn't hate speech. Simple, really.
While what the employee said would not qualify as hate speech here in Canada, it could very well result in discipline or firing here as well. Here in Canada at least, there is a difference between expressing yourself outside of the work environment and doing so within it. When in a work environment, you will be seen as speaking on behalf of your employer or organization, not as an individual. Free speech is therefore constrained when at work, especially at a public service job. This has become an issue in libraries where a staff member working a public desk may want to express themselves by wearing a t-shirt or button with a slogan that some may embrace and may offend others.