A man who torched a Qur’an while off-duty was fired from his job as a New Jersey transit worker, according to the NY Daily News.
Derek Fenton, 39, tore pages out of a Qur’an and lit the Muslim Holy book on fire in front of the planned NY mosque near ground zero on the anniversary of Sept. 11.
Fenton told reporters that he was protesting the planned construction of the controversial mosque.
After burning the Qur’an, Fenton was escorted to jail by police. “He said, ‘This is America,’ and he wanted to stand up for it, in a Tea Party kind of way,” a police source said.
But police say Fenton looked like he was having second thoughts about his actions after being released from jail.
“He looked nervous, like he was starting to think it wasn’t such a good idea,” the police source said.
On Monday Fenton learned he was terminated from his job after 11 years at NJ Transit.
NJ Transit said Fenton was fired but wouldn’t give specifics. “Mr. Fenton’s public actions violated New Jersey Transit’s code of ethics,” an agency statement said.
“NJ Transit concluded that Mr. Fenton violated his trust as a state employee and therefore [he] was dismissed.” [read more]
According to the Daily News, neighbors in Fenton’s town described him as a “family man” who “loves his kids and he loves trains.”
“Good for him for burning the Koran,” neighbor Jacqui Marquez, 40, said.
“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” she added. “By firing him, they’re sending a message that there’s no freedom of speech. They’re completely wrong for doing this.”
Haha <—–in my Nelson voice. When you work for the gov't/state/city they expect you to conduct yourself a certain way, even while off duty.
Well you know that examples have to made out of somebody, and I’m sure he isn’t the only one that will be arrested or lose a job behind this. I guess NJ Transit like any other employer has to disassociate themselves from the madness of it all.
Sandra you forgot to mention the attorney from Australia who smoked pages from the Koran and the Bible, his employer placed him on leave following that act of foolishness.
Why was he arrested? Why did he lose his job? What happened to his First Amendment Rigts? If I were him, I would find a civil rights attorney and sue the pants off of NJ Transit. What is the point of being off the clock, if you are still not able to do what you want on your free time. Was he getting paid on his days off?
#Gotstabemocareful
Good for him for burning the Koran,” neighbor Jacqui Marquez, 40, said.
“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” she added. “By firing him, they’re sending a message that there’s no freedom of speech. They’re completely wrong for doing this.”
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So a man of the “cloth” w/a congregation of 30, put word out about burning the Qu’ran and some idiot followed and lost his job. Freedom of speech and stupidity are two different things. SMH.
I guess NJ Transit like any other employer has to disassociate themselves from the madness of it all. —> As they should.
Nika405 says:
Haha <—–in my Nelson voice. When you work for the gov't/state/city they expect you to conduct yourself a certain way, even while off duty.
BAM girl Uncle Sam DONT PLAY TRUST ME I KNOW!!!
logging off…. looking around carefully….
LaTechGrad02 says:
Sandra you forgot to mention the attorney from Australia who smoked pages from the Koran and the Bible, his employer placed him on leave following that act of foolishness
what in the bob marley hell??/
momma: where is the bible and qura’n gator
(in my best gator from jungle fever voice)
gator: I SMOKED THE BIBLE AND QURA’N !!!!!!!!!!!
Freedom of speech and stupidity are two different things.
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I couldn’t agree more.
Good that’s what his arrogant self-righteous self gets. This world is full of copy cats (mostly for bad things though)
Anna says:
Good for him for burning the Koran,” neighbor Jacqui Marquez, 40, said.
“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” she added. “By firing him, they’re sending a message that there’s no freedom of speech. They’re completely wrong for doing this.”
~~~~~~~
So a man of the “cloth” w/a congregation of 30, put word out about burning the Qu’ran and some idiot followed and lost his job. Freedom of speech and stupidity are two different things.
___________________________________
Exactly!!!! His ignorant behind shoulda got fired.
Shout to New Jersey Transit. It was my main mode of transportation when I was attending law school.
Sidebar: He will get his job back. Next.
agree with attorneymom unless his job can prove his actions were malicious or immoral dude about to get his job back and get paid… New Jersey state ethics violation good luck proving that !!! separation of church and state
“Some Folks” kill me. I bet if it was my black a** down there burning the American flag “Some Folks” wouldn’t be saying that it was unfair for me to lose my job and go to jail.
Good! That bastard needs to get fired. His immature act is putting American soldier and our national security at risk! I hope Al Queda goes after him and not at innocent Americans who do not support bigotry and intolerance!
jazzyiest says:
“Some Folks” kill me. I bet if it was my black a** down there burning the American flag “Some Folks” wouldn’t be saying that it was unfair for me to lose my job and go to jail.
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This has NOTHING to do with freedom of speech and if he works with Muslims I don’t think he should get his job back. That’s like if you work with a white person and they burn a black doll because they don’t like black people. Would you want to work with them? Wouldn’t you fear what they would do next just because they don’t approve of the color of your skin? Especially if he works in the government sector. They could say it was a form of terrorism by going to the site of the proposed community center and setting a fire. He WIL NOT and SHOULD NOT get his job back.
Oh well, someone will hire him. Some supremacist or tea-bagger
Brothers and sisters, I don’t know what this world is coming to!
I can just picture him in an old beat up pick up truck with a confederate flag license plate on the front even though he’s from the north. I see that a few times a year in PA and most of the men look a lot like him.
He worked for a government agency. He’s idiot. Perhaps he should of read their code of ethics. For some employers, how you conduct yourself outside of work, is representation of them, and they will hold you accountable for it. I don’t feel bad at him atall
@Starr
I agree with you 100%. At my workplace once a year we have to take a mandatory Code of Conduct training course. They make everyone electronically sign the completion sheet verifying you that comply and if violated, you know what the consequences are.