Another Democrat Fired

I got this from Rapid Response this morning. I'd already e-mailed the Boone paper and Granite Bank in Boone but got no reply. One of our group got hold of two people in the bank both of whom said, "No comment".

From Rapid Response:

"Hello folks I was wondering if you could please help get this story out. It's about a local democrat who was fired from his job because he expressed his views on the Iraqi war. The guys name is Jeff Block and the story is sadly very true. This guy is in a real jam now."

From Jeff Block (changed typo):

 

Dear North Carolina Friends,

Today I became one of the victims of the new morality in our country. As you know I have been working as a courier/messenger.

This afternoon, Monday, November 8th, I was making my scheduled pickup at the Bank of Granite in Boone. While awaiting the handover of the bags to be delivered one of the tellers at the bank made a comment about how the "moral majority of America stood up to be counted in the election."

I said, "The War is immoral and that we should be ashamed."

The teller told her manager of my statement, the manager called my employer and threatened him with loss of his contract if I was not removed. And so, I was fired today.

I wish this was a joke, but it is not. Free speech is no longer tolerated in the American workplace. I have thought all afternoon about the power of one person and what I could do. I realize that my position will not be reinstated, yet I cannot stand idly by. Our silence has lost our country as we have known it and our continued silence will make slaves of our children.

I ask you as my friends to help. If you have an account at the Bank of Granite, please cancel it. Let the bank know that you are cancelling your account in support of Jeff Block, a courier fired because he dared to speak his mind.

If you do not have an account with the Bank of Granite, please forward this letter to all of your North Carolina friends.

I ask everyone to help. We must remind the corporate entities that rule America today that there will be a tomorrow and that America belongs to the people. Most importantly, we must remind them in their wallets, that the election may be over but the issues remain and that the people will not be silent!

In response to some of the questions I gather have been asked; the bank involved is the Boone, NC branch of the Bank of Granite. I assure all of you that my speech and conduct at all times was mild mannered and calm. In fact, I introduced myself and continued the conversation with a customer who was present at the time (a Bush voter) and we agreed that America is stronger with shared opinions. We shook hands upon parting.

I am a registered Democrat with a Banner Elk mailing address.

Thank! you, God Bless You, God Bless America and the World!

Jeff Block
[e-mail]

Here is the pertinent info for the bank of Granite. I urge everyone to please call the Boone branch where the incident occurred and to please e-mail the Chairman and president of the Bank. Please be respectful but firm. Make sure you let them know that you will do everything in your power to bring this to the attention of as many people as possible. Let them know that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated anywhere in the United States.

Bank of Granite
643 Greenway Road
Boone, NC 28607
828-264-4016

John A. Forlines, Jr.
Chairman, Bank of Granite
Chairman and CEO, Bank of Granite Corporation
[e-mail]

Charles M. Snipes
President and CEO, Bank of Granite
President, Bank of Granite Corporation
[e-mail]

•  Just sue

  them.

  by LiveFreeOrDie on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 08:44:06 AM PDT

  •  sue them?

    what is the to sue about?  The bank has every right to tell companies they deal with they do not want certain people intereacting with them.  This guys employer has every right to fire the guy if they think his politics are interfering with his ability to do the job he was hired for.  Boycott the bank or raise hell with this guy's employer, but there just doesn't seem to be anything to sue over.

    by Damon on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 08:49:56 AM PDT

    •  wrongful termination

      If I were to fire an employee because I thought his "blackness" was getting in the way of my business I would be liable and based on this story it does not appear that a single comment justifies the context of "his politics interfering with his job".  That being said it may be a difficult case to win and one not worth pursuing and the best thing for us to do is publicly shame them and hit their pocketbooks.

      by seer23 on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 09:21:00 AM PDT

•  Fired

  My email to these assholes:
  Let me get this straight. You guys get a man fired for free speech. Just because bush is a fascist do you have to be?
  You are really something. That sounds really moral to me,ha ha.
  Okay, now we are going after your job, your bank, your shareholders, and anything else we can find.
  Michael P. Clark

  by mpc12 on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 08:49:48 AM PDT

•  Fascists indeed

  Unfortunately no recourse that I canthink of.

  by Armando on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 09:03:49 AM PDT

  •  Don't Shoot the Messenger!

    How about a little boycott campaign on the bank. Are there enough Kossacks in the hills of North Carolina to make a significant defense of this guy? Even if it was a small number of accounts canceled, it might make a nasty public relations mess for them.

    Possible tag lines for the campaign:

    "What's more important, Free Speech or Free Checking?"

    "Don't Fire the Messenger."

    I hope they can't start enforcing their narrow view of morality or we are really screwed.

    by fairnbalanced on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 09:17:18 AM PDT

•  is his name...

  Jeff Block or Jeff Brock?

  by Todd Beeton on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 09:14:39 AM PDT