Clayton Hickey, from Olive Branch, Mississippi, has gotten fired after he was photographed voting on November 6 wearing a shirt that many deemed racist.
The former hospital worker sported a Confederate flag shirt with a noose accompanied by the words, “Mississippi Justice.” Those things are considered racist although there is some debate over the flag and its meaning.
Hickey, who is also a former cop, used to work at Regional One Health in Memphis. The employer put out the following statement: “As of today, November 8, 2018, we have completed our investigation and what we learned led to the termination of the employee in question. Regional One Health holds employees to a high standard. We are committed to upholding our mission to provide compassionate care and exceptional services to all. This includes fostering a safe and protected work and care environment for all. Behaviors contrary to these principles are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The picture was posted online on Tuesday and quickly went viral. In addition to calling the move insensitive and racist, many also labeled it as a form of voter intimidation.
It was taken at a polling center near his home and some voters there were not happy with his behavior.
Olive Branch, Mississippi. Nov 6th, 2018. pic.twitter.com/UN4vzu8tK2
— . (@smokeydaQue1212) November 7, 2018
Local media have reached out to his neighbors, and most of them were not ready to throw him under the bus. Instead, they painted the portrait of a man who mostly keeps to himself after getting in a lot of trouble in the past few years.
They say he is nice, but often gets caught in the wrong situations. For example, Hickey resigned from the Memphis Police Department after he was caught in a car with a 17-year-old girl and some alcohol.
The Election Day story has been covered in national media and residents from the southern city hope that Hickey’s behavior will not tarnish its reputation.
