“Me being a white male, it’s been eye-opening in a way,” Jeff Zirkle said. One featured the Mexican flag, another the Gucci logo. Neighbors rallied to the Zirkle family, drawing chalk art on the road near their home in support of them and the “Black Lives Matter” message. Congious says she lost her job at Whataburger after a customer complained about her "Black Lives Matter" face mask. “Yes, of course, all lives matter,” Malia Zirkle said. Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation in collaboration with Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) and so many partnering organizations celebrated September 29, 2020 as BREATHE Day.BREATHE Day is a time and place for discussing Black issues and how the BREATHE Act will #DefundthePolice and create a future for all of us to thrive. Black people are being murdered and brutalized by police with near impunity. You guys suck.”, With a half-hearted laugh, Zirkle answered, “OK.”. Sept. 26, 2020 1. Officers learned who the man is, but the encounter wasn’t technically a threat. Court should drop the case against "Straight Pride Parade" counter... Federal court puts Boston police, prosecutors on notice about... There’s a battle brewing at Google over employee speech. “We want to reiterate to all girls, volunteers, alums, supporters, families, and staff that we do not tolerate racial injustice and we know that Black Lives Matter,” Girl Scouts President Kathy Hopinkah Hannan wrote. It’s an excuse to not talk about it by saying this is politics, talk about it on your own time. This right to free speech is especially strong where the sign is political, such as “Black Lives Matter,” “Impeach Trump,” “Make America Great Again,” “All Are Welcome Here,” or contains a message supporting candidates or ballot initiatives in an election. Over the summer, two Texas teachers faced disciplinary action from their schools, one for wearing a mask and the other for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign, among others, in her virtual classroom. EVERETT — Malia and Jeff Zirkle were tending to their yard last weekend when racism bellowed their way. For too long, Black people have been … Since April, they have had a “Black Lives Matter” sign in their yard. “While everyone is important, Black and Brown people have been and continue to be impacted in ways that other communities—especially white people—aren’t,” Girl Scouts of Western Washington CEO Megan Ferland wrote. The driver, having seen their “Black Lives Matter” sign in the yard, asks, “Hey, you guys do Girl Scout cookies, right?”, Jeff Zirkle, who is white, answered. “If we allow any non-Whataburger slogans as part of our uniforms, we have to allow all slogans,” a Whataburger representative said in a statement. Your government may not ban all signs on private property. Political speech, and particularly political speech on private property, is entitled to the highest form of protection. “Black lives aren’t the only lives that matter. Ma’kiya Congious, 19, lost her job at the fast-food chain shortly after her supervisor told her to remove her Black Lives Matter mask when a white customer complained, her attorney Jason Smith said. When she remained in the store, her supervisors called the police, and five police cars showed up. Boeing declined comment on a WSJ story saying the passenger jet’s assembly will move to South Carolina. This is at least the second recent instance in which a Texas teacher was penalized for displaying “Black Lives Matter” in a school setting. I hope you burn. “The Biden sign is fine, but I don’t agree with the Black Lives Matter sign at all,” April says. No local ordinance may dictate what type of messages a resident can display on their property without a compelling reason. Whataburger is not legally allowed to discriminate against people based on identity markers like race, gender or sexuality, Segura said. In the complaint, Congious said she was let go by the fast-food restaurant because of her race and for having the words “Black Lives Matter” on her mask. They shared the 20-second encounter, recorded on their security camera Sept. 19, on social media later the same day initially only with their social media friends. Founded in 2013 following the murder of Trayvon Martin, Black Lives Matter is an organization that builds power to provide justice, freedom, and healing to Black people all across the world. The Zirkles told The Daily Herald people often tease them about the cookie calories sold by adorable children, including their daughter. Many Everett restaurants are struggling to survive. Black lives don’t matter.”. The Black Lives Matter Global Network traces its roots to both a hashtag and a political project after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin.. Smith said Congious had worn the same mask to work in front of several of her managers without consequence. Your donation will fuel our legal battles and urgent advocacy efforts. But at Whataburger we don’t want to portray them because … some people may be offended,” a supervisor said in a conversation taped by Congious and provided to The Texas Tribune. It’s too early to call it a third wave, but the numbers are cause for concern, Dr. Chris Spitters said. She asked her parents why someone would say that, to which they told her there are people who don’t understand the sign’s message, learned hate and react to it. “But right now not all lives are in jeopardy. Everett’s mayor said it’s a business decision. Segura said the retaliation against Texas teachers “is very concerning” because it negates that teachers still have a right to free speech in the classroom and sends the message that “Black Lives Matter” is a politically charged statement. “I had the benefit of not being completely Black,” she said. Act with us to end police brutality, demand racial justice, and defend our right to protest. In a Wednesday press release, Congious called for the company to let employees wear masks stating “Black Lives Matter” and to provide implicit bias training for all managers. Malia Zirkle said she was shaking after hearing the harassment and racism. Over the summer, two Texas teachers faced disciplinary action from their schools, one for wearing a mask and the other for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign, among other signs, in her virtual classroom. I hope she sues,” Ashton P. Woods, founder of the Houston chapter of Black Lives Matter, said in a statement. The Zirkles said they support law enforcement and don’t view the Black Lives Matter message as inherently conflicting. Congious filed a discrimination complaint last month with the Texas Workforce Commission. The Zirkles, both 38, have lived in their View Ridge neighborhood house for 12 years. Whataburger’s uniform policy, which extends to face masks, does not allow “non-Whataburger messaging,” like that related to politics, religion or sports. And Whole Foods is being sued by 15 employees across six stores, who are accusing the Amazon-owned grocery store of firing one employee and disciplining 40 others for wearing the masks and pins at work. Over the summer, two Texas teachers faced disciplinary action from their schools, one for wearing a mask and the other for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign… Reynolds presented 'a guarantee' she intends to sign an executive order on felon voting rights Stephen Gruber-Miller Des Moines Register It has nothing to do with politics.” “The best that we can do is not allow that type of hate to, I guess, rule us,” Malia Zirkle said. Police believe all four people knew each other. Malia Zirkle added, “We were caught off-guard. One woman was shot in the face. 2218 (2015), 3. Search and rescue found his body in a creek. Reed v. Town of Gilbert, Arizona, 576 U.S. __, 135 S.Ct. Adam L. Johnson, 29, didn’t return from a hike Saturday. No. A Texas woman says she was fired by a Whataburger in Fort Worth for wearing a Black Lives Matter face mask to work, in what is the latest in a string of penalties handed down by employers for public displays of support for the social justice movement. "I wish I could be shocked, but the reality is that anti-Blackness is at every level of our lives. “We support it, but at the same time there’s a fear behind it, especially with our kids,” Malia Zirkle said. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. In late August, a teacher in the Roma Independent School District was temporarily placed on leave after parents complained about posters hanging in her virtual classroom. Their 8-year-old daughter was in her room with the window open and heard the exchange. She even made a few for teachers who asked her if she had extra. “Eventually I realized that this is something that happens, and there are a lot of people who think it doesn’t happen,” said Malia Zirkle, whose father is Black. “When we got the first money, I cried,” says food bank organizer. by Stacy Fernández Here’s a look back at two decades of ups and downs for one of Boeing’s marquee airplanes. “Whataburger doesn’t want to get into anything political because we’re just hamburgers and fries,” the person on the recording continued. Meanwhile in Ohio, a Taco Bell worker was fired for refusing to take off his Black Lives Matter mask; the same happened to a convenience store worker in New Jersey. Passersby who comment on the sign largely have been supportive with an occasional “all lives matter” shouted their way, the Zirkles said. The Zirkles, both 38, have lived in their View Ridge neighborhood house for 12 years. Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Congious was not arrested, and no charges were filed against her. He died in police custody when a Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. They called Everett police to report the harassment to at least have the encounter on the record. Washington leaders are not happy. The president repeatedly interrupted his opponent. Sales are over for the year, but even if they were available, the Zirkles said they’d decline because they believe in the skills gained through person-to-person sales. Over the summer, White wore homemade masks with the words “Black Lives Matter” and “Silence is Violence” to in-person training sessions at the school. A driver attempted to make a U-turn on the major highway, according to Washington State Patrol. “This is human rights and it should be something that is promoted at our school. The school reinstated the teacher after a few days with the option to keep the sign. For instance, a town may require the signs be no larger than certain dimensions and be placed in a manner so as not to impede visibility on the roads by motorists. The firing of this woman for a BLM mask illustrates the hypocrisy of franchise owners who are quick to support anti-Black, anti-LGBT and anti-woman causes ... on the basis of bigoted religious beliefs. We thought it was one of those things, ‘Oh, don’t sell me anymore.’ But it turned dark real quick.”, In the video, the driver followed the short response and said, “You know what, guys? Amid the heated discussion, Congious asked about putting in her two weeks’ notice and was told that she no longer worked there. Black lives are in jeopardy, and that’s who we need to support in our community.”. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Below, we answer some common questions that our office receives about this issue. It’s just an excuse because they’re uncomfortable with the conversation,” White told KENS 5. First a pandemic, now the departure of the Dreamliner. Similar cases are popping up across the state and all over the country. In the complaint, Congious pointed out that colleagues also wore face masks other than the ones provided by the company. “Usually we have people who stop by and shout out their windows, ‘We love your sign,’” Malia Zirkle said. The Bay Wood property on the north end of West Marine Drive is contaminated from its sawmill days. In San Antonio, art teacher Lillian White was fired from the Great Hearts Western Hills charter school about a week before classes were set to begin, reported KENS 5, the local CBS news station.