Two #TSA officers have been placed on administrative leave after a racist display was found inside a TSA workstation at #MiamiInternationalAirport.
The horrific display, which contained two stuffed gorillas tied together and hanging with a noose, was discovered by three TSA officers, @cnn reports. The display was reportedly hanging from a pole right in the center of the workstation located “underneath the airport where passengers’ checked luggage is screened…”
The officers notified their manager, but one employee said the manager “tried to downplay the noose and gorilla display, saying it wasn’t racist, it was just a joke.” The manager’s reaction further upset the three officers who reported it, the TSA employee said.
“The mood now at the airport is people are upset this hasn’t been properly taken care of yet. We want everybody held accountable for what they have done,” said a veteran officer who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation.
He added that the incident has a lot of the airport’s Black and Hispanic TSA officers distraught.
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In a statement, the TSA said the display was immediately removed once reported and that an investigation was launched into who was responsible for the “unacceptable behavior.”
“TSA does not tolerate racist or offensive behavior and those found responsible will be held accountable for their actions,” Jenny Burke, a spokeswoman for TSA, said in a statement. “Two TSA officers have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.”
Executive assistant administrator for security operations Darby Lajoye sent an email to employees saying, “We’ve been made aware of an extremely troubling event in Miami this week involving a racially charged, disturbing display that cuts at the very core of who we are and what we stand for as an agency.”
The email goes on to say, “TSA has zero tolerance for acts like this. We have already ordered an independent investigation and all individuals potentially involved have been placed on Administrative leave while the investigation is underway.”
The emails, however, did not name the individuals involved.
We’ll keep you posted on any updates.
