RALEIGH, N.C.–An employee of State Employees Credit Union here has been fired after a member objected to something she saw on the employee’s desk and then took to Facebook to complain. The employee also discussed the issue on Facebook, but said he did not violate any SECU policies in doing so.
The employee has also told local media that he is concerned over being labeled a “racist” as a result of the incident and that both he and his fiancé have been subjected to threats via social media. The issue has received significant media attention in SECU’s markets, as well as on social platforms
The member, who is African-American but who has not been identified, saw a figurine on the employee’s desk that she said she found to be offensive. The figurine is of an African-American character, Michonne, from the AMC series The Walking Dead, and depicts Michonne holding two armless zombies who are chained at the neck. The employee involved is white.
The SECU member uploaded a photo of the figurine to her Facebook page, as well as screenshots of the SECU employee’s posting on Facebook, with the former viewed by more than 7,000 people in 24 hours, according to WNCN, the local CBS affiliate.
The member described the figurine as "a black doll with a noose around its neck and hands tied behind its back,” and said she asked the SECU employee about the doll.
According to the report, the member told the employee, Matt Anderson, she found the doll offensive. In a phone interview with WNCN, Anderson said he responded by asking the member, “In what way?” and “Have you ever seen the show?”
“She didn't respond to my question,” Anderson said during the interview. “She just said that she was offended and I asked her, 'Well, why were you offended?' because I wanted to know so that I could apologize to her.”
He said the woman didn't respond and instead complained to his boss. Anderson said he has been terminated after less than a year at SECU.
No Official Reason
In his interview with WNCN, Anderson alleged "the credit union has not given me an official reason for letting me go. The initial reaction was that I shared customer information, however that's not true. I wouldn't ever do that.”
Anderson confirmed he did discuss the incident with a friend and on Facebook.
“I did not reveal anyone’s information,” he told WNCN. “There was no personal identifiable information transmitted at any point during anything I made online or otherwise.”
Anderson added he was a history major in college and studied African history. The toys were given to him by another member.
“I’m sorry that anyone took them the wrong way. That was definitely not my intention and I would have apologized immediately if I had been given an opportunity to," he said during the interview.
In a statement, SECU EVP-organizational development Leigh Brady said, "State Employees' Credit Union prides itself on the fair and equitable treatment it provides its members, and takes its members' privacy seriously. Yesterday, the actions of one of our employees fell far short of our expectations and we took immediate steps to address this personnel matter."
CBS 17 said the member declined to comment on the matter.
The news report can be found here.