Cyclist fired for giving Trump middle finger sues ex-employer

An American woman who was fired from her job after she was photographed showing her middle finger to President Donald Trump is suing her former employer.

Juli Briskman gestures with her middle finger as a motorcade with US President Donald Trump departs Trump National Golf Course October 28, 2017

Juli Briskman gestures with her middle finger as a motorcade with US President Donald Trump departs Trump National Golf Course, 28 October, 2017. Source: AFP

Juli Briskman, who was a marketing analyst for the firm Akima, says the decision to terminate her was a violation of her right to free speech, according to her complaint filed before a court in Virgina on Wednesday and seen by AFP.

Briskman was riding her bicycle on October 28 when she was passed by the president's motorcade which was on its way to the White House from one of his golf clubs.

With her right hand on the handlebar, the single mother raised the other to make the rude gesture. The moment was captured by AFP photographer Brendan Smialowski, and quickly went viral online.
Though the image only showed Briskman's back, she decided to own it publicly, making it her profile picture on Facebook and Twitter.

Akima, a government and military contractor that works in construction and logistics, fired her three days later.

According to Briskman's complaint, the company feared losing contracts as a result of her actions -- an unconstitutional form of retaliation.

"Plaintiff chose in her private time and in her capacity as a private citizen to express her disapproval of President Trump by extending her middle finger," her complaint said.

"Although many will disagree with Plaintiff’s message and her means of expressing it, there can be no doubt that such speech is at the very core of the First Amendment and the Virginia Constitution," it added.
Megyn Kelly TODAY - Season 1
Juli Briskman and NBC's Megyn Kelly Source: NBCUniversal

Share
2 min read

Published



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Cyclist fired for giving Trump middle finger sues ex-employer | SBS News