Quinn Simmons
Posted on 10/05/2020 12:49:53 PM PDT by MarvinStinson
Cycling team Trek-Segafredo has suspended the 2019 junior road race world champion Quinn Simmons after he made comments in support of President Donald Trump on Twitter.
Simmons, a 19-year-old American, was replying to Dutch cycling journalist Jose Been. Been initially tweeted statements that were critical of Trump.
"My dear American friends, I hope this horrible presidency ends for you. And for us as (former?) allies too,” Been wrote, via the Associated Press."If you follow me and support Trump, you can go. There is zero excuse to follow or vote for the vile, horrible man."
Simmons replied to Been with “Bye,” and a Black-skinned waving hand emoji.
After another Twitter user replied to Been with "Apparently a Trumper," Simmons replied again with "That's right" and an American flag emoji.
Trek-Segafredo: Simmons won’t race until further notice The racing team released a statement late Wednesday night about Simmons’ tweets and his use of a Black hand emoji.
"While we support the right to free speech, we will hold people accountable for their words and actions. Regrettably, Simmons made statements online that we feel are divisive, incendiary, and detrimental to the team, professional cycling, its fans, and the positive future we hope to help create for the sport In response, he will not be racing for Trek-Segafredo until further notice."
There has been some backlash after Simmons’ suspension, since he appears to be guilty of nothing more than stating his support for the current US president, and none of his comments were derogatory or inappropriate.
However, the issue could be his use of a Black-skinned hand emoji. Since Simmons is white, using an emoji with a dark skin tone could be considered to be a form of Blackface. Trek-Segafredo has not explained what specifically got Simmons suspended.
(Excerpt) Read more at aol.com ...
Quinn Simmons
Time to sue.
>>Time to sue.<<
Yep. If they say they are private he need only produce similar anti-Trump comments (you know they are out there) from other members.
This is workplace discrimination is actionable.
The World has gone nuts
This. It's the only way short of rope and lamp posts that organizations will get with the program that actions like this actually suppress the right to free speech and that they are not free to actively penalize Americans for practicing their rights.
Wow. They worked really hard to find something offensive in this fact pattern
Remember when the woman’s soccer player (Rapinoe) criticized Trump. The applauded her and her right to free speech.
Why the double standard?
Funny how one sided the censorship is? Could it be bias?
Chinese must be in charge of all sports
We should do what the left does, hound them (the team) until he’s hired back.
Jas Been
Last week he was suspended for using a brown hand emoji to waive goodbye to his haters, and was called racist.
LOL, she’s Dutch.
as much as it sucks- not sure that political discrimination by certain businesses is against the law-
Cancel culture is alive and well at Trek-Segafredo
But the original tweeter didn't get suspended for this hateful, decisive speech ?????
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