On Saturday, January 24, I was called into the management office at the grocery store that I work for.

I was told that they would like to get my word on some statements that have been heard from me by a coworker in my department.

After explaining- I was let go pending investigation.

Full story:

Trigger warning: blood, violence, politics

I was working in the deli being trained, and the coworker was opening the new “chubs” of meat to begin slicing for the day. When said coworker opened the first chub, bloody water squirted out of the wrapper almost into his face.

He looked at me and said “ this part can be cathartic if you think of someone that you hate” which had not crossed my mind- but given that I had just watched ice “officers” shoot an American citizen through the face- I made the comment that “that should be easy given the current ice violence situation in our country”

This was the first statement they brought up in my meeting.

My coworker laughed and mentioned that I should be careful who I talk like that around because there were people nearby who disagreed- I told my coworker that if I were to lose my job for standing against fascism- oh well.

Over the next week, my coworker continued to bait me into political conversation- pretending to be on my side of the issues- waiting for me to say something that he could take to management out of context, trying to make me seem as unhinged as possible.

worth mentioning - I am a transgender woman.

While on my walk to work, every day, I pass a large monument to the “sons of Eden” the “defenders of the union” who gave their lives to stop a tyrannical uprising of a racist, sexist and homophobic government in the past (during the civil war)

On one occasion, while speaking about this with my coworker, I said that if ICE wanted to come to New England and try this shit again, they would be handled in the same manner that we handled them last time.

These conversations were private between me and a coworker behind the scenes of our department where no one else could hear us.

My coworker started the conversations continued the conversations, participated in the conversations and never mentioned that he felt uncomfortable with the content.

He even told my manager’s things that were clearly said as a joke- example: we were speaking about how we’re in a dictatorship at the moment. I laughed and said yes, a fascist one if only it were a socialist one that wouldn’t be so bad.

My coworker asked me follow up questions until I elaborated to the point that he was armed for HR. I said something along the lines of “tolerance shouldn’t extend to someone’s intolerance. That negates the word.” And “the world would be better without sexism and Nazis, racists, homophobes etc.”

When he took this to my manager managers, he told them that I said that everyone on the right should be killed- something I’ve never said in my life.

Now Nazis? That’s another story- I believe that we are in a civil war and that only one side is currently fighting. I am entitled to that belief.

now here’s where it gets interesting, on Sunday night, January 18, said coworker heard me speaking with another coworker about how I wasn’t looking forward to my walk home in negative temperatures.

He stepped in and offered me a ride home later that night after our shift. (Didn’t seem odd at the time, but now that I know how he feels about what we talk about)

I said “no it’s really fine- I only live a five minute walk from work. I’m just being dramatic.”

About a half hour went by and he asked me again “are you sure you wouldn’t like a ride home? I don’t mind.” I was even clearer this time. “I do not mind walking home. I was just bullshitting with a coworker. It’s not a big deal.”

I was then asked a third time about 20 minutes before we closed for the night- and I responded with. “It’s fine. My fiancé is outside with my dog. They are going to walk me home.”

at my next shift, I was called into my manager’s office to discuss my obscene statements.

While I feel that this is in direct defiance of my first amendment rights. I also feel that my coworkers actions were retaliatory.

He seemed perfectly fine having these sorts of conversations before I told him I did not need a ride home from work.

I am creating this GoFundMe because I am most likely going to lose my job next week when this investigation is finished- the person working there has been working there much longer than I have.

I live on an island where the temperature is currently -20° and absolutely nobody is hiring- I have rent to pay and bills to pay.

Donate if you can share if you can’t.

(This is my account of the events - no manager confirmed who said what about me. Just what they said- but ya know.. i know who I spoke to and who I didn’t.)