Justice

Florida Public Defender Fires Lawyer Over BlackLivesMatter, Still Claims He's Totally Not Racist

White employers haven't had this much power to discriminate since the 14th Amendment was passed.

By  
on

BlackLivesMatter signJust to recap where we are with White America: it’s apparently wrong to suggest that a Trump supporter who attends Trump rallies and hires three black people out of 42 possible positions might lack some racial sensitivity, but it’s okay to fire a brother for what’s on his tie.

Brevard County Public Defender, Blaise Trettis, fired assistant public defender Alton Edmond. Edmond wore a “Black Lives Matter” tie to work and to court. And he posted on Facebook about the reactions he was getting in the office.

Trettis said that the tie was not the reason he was fired, then kind of contradicts himself in the next line. From USAToday:

“It is accurate to say he was fired. But it was an accumulation of things … the tie had no significance in his firing,” Trettis told FLORIDA TODAY.

“People can talk about politics, of course. But there’s a big difference about talking politics and wearing politics on your tie.”

Umm… is there? Is there really a BIG difference between talking about politics and wearing a political tie?

“I think black people deserve to be treated with respect by the police.”
“Well, that’s political talk, but I respect… hey, WHAT THE F**K IS ON YOUR TIE?”
“It says ‘Black Lives Matter.'”
“No. NOOO. ALL LIVES MATTER, YOU RACIST! Get out of my office.”

Trettis told the paper that there was a list of offenses Edmond committed, of which the tie was only one. And from a certain point of view, I think Trettis is exactly right. There are a host of things that white people can do that black people aren’t allowed to get away with.

Sponsored

Trettis said he admonished Edmond about the tie but that other issues played a role in the dismissal – including an episode in which Edmond recorded his colleagues talking about politics and another instance in which he left behind a loaded gun on the desk in his office before he went to court.

Edmond had a conceal-carry permit and permitted guns are allowed in the public defender’s office (because, Flori-duh). But I think we all know damn well that the 2nd Amendment is only supposed to protect white people.

Still, I can’t feel too bad for Edmond. He posted about the “intolerance” he felt in his office on Facebook. Now, here’s a little something from the “African-American Handbook” every black person gets with our free DVD of Eyes On The Prize: white people tender “letters of resignation,” black people tell their racist bosses “Yes, You’re Racist.” The effect is the same. There are zero black people who work for a racist employer, say that publicly, and still truly expect to have a job on Monday.

White people get to make the rules. White people have decided that #BlackLivesMatter is an inappropriate message in court. They did not consult black people before making this decision, I doubt that they care what we think. As a black attorney, your choice is to follow the white man’s rules, or not. Let’s not act like this is the first time you’ve had to make that choice.

And remember, in TrumpWorld, white people feel particularly ascendant. They don’t even have to pretend to consider your point of view. Blaise Trellis ain’t going anywhere. His people won. White employers haven’t had this much power to discriminate since the 14th Amendment was passed. It’s a great time, for them.

Sponsored

But you don’t have to work for these people. You can’t stop them, but you don’t have to help them. Edmond says that he’s moving into private practice. That seems like the right answer.

I look forward to writing about the Brevard County Judge who holds Edmond in contempt for refusing to remove his Afro pick or something.

Brevard public defender fired, says Black Lives Matter tie raised eyebrows [USA Today]

Earlier: Lawyer Jailed For Wearing #BlackLivesMatter Pin In Court

Topics

, ,