A RWJBH hopsital executive who pointed out police brutality and implicit bias was placed on leave after her post went viral.
RWJBH hopsital executive placed on leave
The leave comes after Davis commented on a NorthJersey.com article on plans for armed police officers at schools in Fair Lawn.
“Who is going to train them not to shoot black children first?!?” Davis said in the comment. It did not appear on a public post, but screenshots were circulated on social media.
Michellene’s post wasn’t public but happened to go viral after a person on her friend’s list took offense to the comment and took a screen shot. After the post went viral, people went to her employer’s Facebook page RWJBH to complain of her comment.
Mike Bates went to the Facebook page of Davis’s employer and called for her to be fired for her remarks that he claims were “racist and discriminated against all law enforcement.”
“Would you trust your healthcare to a company where there is clearly racism at the top?? I wonder if they hire like attitudes as employees. Go elsewhere!!!!!” he wrote.
Similarly, when NJ101.5 reported on the incident, it painted Davis’ comment as suggesting police would shoot black children first, then quoted New Jersey Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Colligan as saying, “The anti-cop stuff is getting old. When we get painted with the same broad stroke just because we’re police officers, that’s racism in itself. You can’t paint every cop.”
I’m confused. Pointing out police brutality and systematic racism is racism? It seems even when you talk about racism and discrimination, a very valid problem in our society, you are the problem? This is what people of color learn everyday when posting on social media about social issues within our society.
Anti-police brutality
Michellene didn’t make an anti-cop statement. She made an anti-police brutality statement and there is a difference.
Michellene’s question is a valid one. Many people of various shades are concerned with the presence of armed forces in schools. It is a valid critique of the state of law enforcement within the school system.
We need to get into the habit of stop calling black people racist for pointing out racism! It is a laxidasical argument and furthers divides us instead of having a real conversation on race.
Davis posted a public apology to her Facebook Thursday morning, calling her own words “extremely insensitive and offensive,” and proclaiming her respect for those working in law enforcement.
Though Davis apologized, she was placed on administrative leave. Her employer RJWBarnabas Health wrote in a post on their own Facebook page : “Statements posted by RWJBarnabas Health official social media pages are the only statements that represent the views and policies of our organization.”
Sigh.
