There is an old adage that says "When people show you who they are, believe them."
Several people over the course of the past two weeks since the death of George Floyd have fulfilled that adage and society has made it clear that there is no space for that point of view going forward.
A Black Lives Matter protest in Franklinville, New Jersey on Monday was antagonized by a group of men with an "All Lives Matter" sign and a "Trump/Pence" re-election canvas stretched over the back window of a pick-up truck.
Trump supporters are disgusting. These Franklinville, NJ Trump supporters mockingly re-enacted the George Floyd murder. This needs to go viral! Who is this man? pic.twitter.com/xOOV2F7yNs
— Black Lives Matter (@HKrassenstein) June 8, 2020
The method of antagonization?
The "counter-protestors" re-enacted the murder of George Floyd in front of protestors, while yelling:
"This is what happens—comply with the cops. He's dead because he didn't comply."
Sick Sick Sick!!
Eveyone retweet & lets find out this man's name.
— 🦋 Sheila 🦋 (@sdr_medco) June 8, 2020
This is disgusting. How can you argue that a handcuffed George Floyd WASN'T complying with the cops. They had him in custody and he posed to threat to those officers.
— AJM (@Charge_Right) June 8, 2020
Soooo I think this answers the question if Trump supporters are racists.
— Emily Castro (@EmmKnightley) June 8, 2020
When Biden said 10-15% are bad people, it's these people he is referring to.
— Hooligan🐒💨🙊 (@ShawnUSThug) June 8, 2020
Twitter was quickly able to find out just who the antagonists were and where they worked:
SPREAD IT LIKE WILDFIRE pic.twitter.com/qqW0ED7oGB
— meeeeeessshhhhhh (@bigchunk6919) June 9, 2020
4 People have said that the Man acting out George Floyd's Death is Joe DeMarco. https://t.co/eqoN4HMc1h https://t.co/jaU91Ou4hL
— 🌎𝐖𝐞𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞🌍 (@American4Love) June 8, 2020
I do! It's the DeMarcos of Franklinville, NJ
— Chris (@RavshngOne) June 8, 2020
And soon, the DeMarco brothers found themselves without jobs.
Jim DeMarco was "immediately removed" from his work duties at FedEx while they conduct an investigation according to a response the shipping giant posted. The company later released a statement stating DeMarco was fired and that FedEx "holds its team members to a high standard of personal conduct, and we do not tolerate the kind of appalling and offensive behavior depicted in this video."
The behavior depicted in the video, which involved a FedEx employee, is appalling and offensive. The employee in question was immediately removed from all FedEx work duties while our investigation is concluded and all internal procedures are followed.
— FedEx (@FedEx) June 9, 2020
FedEx holds its team members to a high standard of personal conduct, and we do not tolerate the kind of appalling and offensive behavior depicted in this video. The individual involved is no longer employed by FedEx. We stand with those who support justice and equality.
— FedEx (@FedEx) June 9, 2020
Meanwhile, the other brother, Joe DeMarco—who works in the criminal justice system as a corrections officer with the New Jersey Department Of Corrections—was "suspended and banned" from NJDOC facilities for the foreseeable future while an investigation is conducted.
pic.twitter.com/bAXAZzExwW
— NJ Department of Corrections (@NJ_DOC) June 9, 2020
However, due to the nature of the video, people are demanding that further action, including firing DeMarco and a thorough examination of his caseload as a corrections officer, should be undertaken.
Please look through his records - especially at cases where people's prison time was extended because of reports filed by him.
— Carrie🌻 (@carrielogo) June 9, 2020
this man needs to be FIRED. Do you really think the citizens of NJ want our people that have been (probably injustly) incarcerated being treated like this by him????!!!!! FIRE HIM NOW. There's nothing to investigate. that was a RACIST display of HATRED to black people everywhere.
— nic (@nicolercastro) June 9, 2020
THANK YOU!
Now go through your ranks.#NoJusticeNoPeace#NoRacistPolice
— Gabernasher (@Gnabergasher) June 9, 2020
Someone who so proudly displays their racism should not be given a platform of power. I understand the need for an investigation, but the video is very clear. Fire him!! We will not forget!
— Brooke (@BeeAshleigh) June 9, 2020
It seems that the process of bad actors making themselves known has only just begun.
In the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, "history has its eyes on you."
@Rob Schneider/X
@Rob Schneider/X
@pancho_runs/Instagram
@risheeee/Instagram
@nickwetzel10/Instagram
@bailey_marie1212/Instagram
@atrain29730/Instagram
Soldier for Life/Facebook