WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - A New York City hospital fired a Palestinian American Muslim nurse after she called Israel’s war in Gaza a “genocide” during an acceptance speech for an award for her work with bereaved mothers who lost their children during pregnancy and childbirth.
A spokesperson of the hospital, NYU Langone Health, said on Thursday that labor and delivery nurse Hesen Jabr had previously been warned not to bring her views “on this divisive and charged issue into the workplace.”
Jabr posted on Instagram that she was awarded on May 7, when she made her remarks, adding that she was handed a termination letter later in the month.
That is not what free speech means.
Free speech means the government cannot prohibit free speech. A private institution can take any lawful action they want in retaliation/reaction.
I agree that it really sucks that saying something true can get you fired, but this isn’t an infringement of the first amendment.
You’re talking like the First Amendment is the definition of Free Speech, and it’s not. I don’t know New York law, and I’m not an American, so I can’t say if this firing breaks any free speech laws, but it definitely contravenes the concept of free speech.
It’s not illegal but being barred from speaking up against Genocide is certainly not a great look.
When Russia invaded Ukraine every workplace was “standing up for justice”. Now justice has to sit down and shut up.
Well, that’s because supporting Ukraine isn’t political, but supporting Gaza is, and we can’t have any politics in the workplace! (/s + people use “political” when they actually mean “divisive”)
You’re right. I was being very Ameri-centric. I subconsciously interchange free speech and the first amendment even though they are not equal.
I do believe that individuals and private institutions should have this right to react though. I don’t agree with how it was used in this situation, but I absolutely believe the hospital should have the right to terminate someone based on the opinions they openly share.
If this same employee was sharing an anti-vax opinion I would want the hospital to be able to remove them from the role.
Right, but even the First Amendment has limits, like hate speech and threats of violence. I guess the question is where’s the line for private employers. And I don’t think calling what’s happening in Gaza a genocide (arguably true) is the same as saying anti-vax things (which are almost exclusively lies). They might both be considered “over the line”, but one is much closer to that line.