Tennessee Railway Fires Conductor Jack Peterson After Independence Day Remarks Go Viral
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Tennessee Railway Fires Conductor Jack Peterson After Independence Day Remarks Go Viral
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Summary
Jack Peterson, a part-time conductor on Chattanooga’s Incline Railway, was fired the same day after a TikTok showed him telling passengers the U.S. was “the greatest country” and dissenters could “leave.”
CARTA said rider complaints and the video prompted the dismissal, arguing Peterson violated conduct and public-contact rules by using the train microphone for personal views and making assumptions about passengers’ citizenship.
Scott Wilson, CARTA’s chief of staff, apologized to riders and said the railway has “zero tolerance” for language that excludes guests on the 131-year-old attraction, which draws visitors from across the U.S. and abroad.
Peterson called the firing unjust, said he was punished for a patriotic statement on Independence Day, and launched a GoFundMe as support grew online.
CARTA’s CEO has since contacted Peterson and plans to discuss the impact of his remarks and whether reemployment in some capacity is possible.