A Pennsylvania man identified by Butler News as “John Pisone” (he’s now deleted his Facebook page) took time out of his busy day to stop and harass a group people protesting against fracking in Pennsylvania. Pisone is chastising the protesters, questioning if they’ve ever had a job. Only seconds later, he turns to cameraman Tom Jefferson (who is black) and let’s loose a vulgar string of obscenities. Tom Jefferson uploaded to the video to YouTube and it didn’t take long to contact his employer, MMC Land Management, who promptly fired John Pisone. via AJ+. Posted By Persist
MARS, Pa. —An employee of MMC Land Management is out of a job after being caught on camera hurling racial slurs at protesters outside a drilling site in Mars a couple of weeks ago.
“You’re maybe the 10th one I’ve seen in my life, too. You all look the same to me,” Pisone says in the video.
Ping Pirrung and Diane Sipe were protesting in Mars on Sunday against the close proximity of natural gas drilling to area schools when Pisone arrived.
“He drove up, got out of his truck and started basically harassing us,” Pirrung said.
“I think he was trying to get something going, and when he didn’t succeed with us, I think he then attacked the cameraman because, I guess, he is a racist,” Sipe said.
Criticism and outrage on social media over the video, which was posted to Facebook, ultimately cost Pisone his job at MMC Land Management.
The company posted the following statement Tuesday on its own Facebook page:
“Today, we were disgusted to learn that one of MMC’s former employees used racial slurs and made racially charged comments during a peaceful protest in Mars, Pennsylvania, outside of work hours at a location with which we have no affiliation.
“We are sorry that this incident occurred. Whether at work or not, we do not condone hate speech – EVER. Inclusion and diversity are among MMC’s core values. We believe in equality for everyone, regardless of race, age, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.
“MMC has terminated this employee and will never do business with him again in the future.”
Pisone reached out to Channel 11 Thursday to apologize publicly for his actions.
“It was foolish of me, especially to go racial over the whole thing,” he said.
Pisone said since the video of his tirade was posted online, he’s received death threats and had to shut down his social media accounts.
“This was stupid of me. I was angry,” he said. “I exploded and said what I thought would cut the deepest, and it was very stupid of me.”
Pisone said he was angry about the anti-drilling protest because the industry, he says, is flushing money and jobs into the area.
“I went racial on him, him being black. I thought this was going to cut deep. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking,” he said. “I won’t ever do this again.”
Pisone told Channel 11 News that he’s turned to a church to help guide him through this incident. He said while his family is ashamed of his actions, they are supporting him.
