Two Transportation Security Administration officers were placed on leave after several fellow employees discovered a “racially charged, disturbing” display in a TSA workstation.
A group of TSA workers at Miami International Airport found a display showing two stuffed gorillas tied together and strung up with a rope on July 21, according to CNN. They reported the display to a manager who attempted to downplay it as a “joke.”
TSA later suspended two officers while investigators look into who made the display and why.
2 @TSA Officers placed on administrative leave after two gorillas with a noose were discovered in a TSA work station at #MIA July 21st. More on @WPLGLocal10 #Local10atNoon pic.twitter.com/0VupP10Sdr
— Roy Ramos (@RRamosWPLG) July 30, 2019
“TSA does not tolerate racist or offensive behavior and those found responsible will be held accountable for their actions,” TSA spokeswoman Jenny Burke said.
The incident prompted TSA acting deputy administrator Patricia Cogswell to ask that an email be sent out to senior offices about the situation.
“We’ve been made aware of an extremely troubling event in Miami this week involving a racially charged, disturbing display that cuts at the very core of who we are and what we stand for as an agency,” said Darby Lajoye, the executive assistant administrator for security operations, in an email to senior officers.
“TSA has zero tolerance for acts like this. We have already ordered an independent investigation and all individuals potentially involved have been placed on Administrative leave while the investigation is underway,” the email continued.
