The GoFundMe page was created Wednesday morning and set a fundraising goal of $60,000. As of this publication, the page has raised $54,541 for the two employees, Antonio and Felinzay. The campaign was created by Everything Georgia, a popular social media account dedicated to the Peach State.
According to the page, the two FedEx employees, who the page states “were fired simply for doing their job,” asked Everything Georgia to set up the campaign. A backstory to the incident that led to the campaign is included on the page:
“All we did was deliver his package, he was in the house at the time. It was a quick stop and as soon as we were leaving he ran out his house cursing and threatening us. While we were looking confused we just apologized for being on his yard, but he keep [sic] going on. Then he kept saying he would whoop our black asses and then he told his wife to call the cops,” the backstory states.
“That’s when he pulled out his phone playing victim and that’s when I recorded. [I don’t know] what the police did, but I posted this video because we go through racism everyday [sic] on that route in Leesburg, but he was the first one to actually come up and actually threaten us,” the backstory continues.
Antonio, whose last name is unknown, posted a video Wednesday of the incident to his Twitter account, which has since gone viral, that shows his colleague in a heated conversation with a customer: “Update FedEx called and told me to take down this video and fired both of us today. I’m reposting this video because people like him, doesn’t matter white or any race, should never disrespect essential workers putting their lives in jeopardy, especially with this COVID-19.”
Antonio posted in a later tweet that he has “no hard feelings” toward the company: I really appreciate the job opportunity I had with FedEx. No hard feelings, but I pray I can get back on my feet because I have a daughter now."
FedEx denied that the two men in the video were fired, but rather that the contracting company that hired them would no longer be working with FedEx. A spokesperson for FedEx told Newsweek in a statement that “FedEx will provide employment for these drivers.”
“FedEx takes extremely seriously any allegations of discrimination, retaliation, or improper employment actions. These individuals are employed by an independent service provider and FedEx will be conducting a thorough investigation into these claims. While we conduct this investigation, FedEx will provide employment for these drivers,” the statement said.
Newsweek reached out to Antonio for comment, but he did not respond back in time for publication.
