‘You can leave’: CARTA fires conductor for rude announcement on Incline Railway
The part-time employee was captured in a TikTok video making xenophobic remarks during a July 4 Incline Railway ride.By Raymon Troncoso | Chattanooga Times Free Press (TNS)
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — CARTA fired a part-time conductor Saturday for making xenophobic remarks during a July 4 Incline Railway ride that has since made waves on social media.
"To the very, very few Americans in here, happy Independence Day," the conductor said over the train intercom in a now-viral TikTok video, as a passenger tells him to shut up. "To the rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave."
In a statement Monday, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority said it was given a video of the incident by a customer shortly after it took place and fired the conductor, who was a temporary summer employee, the same day. The statement added the man would never work for the Incline Railway or CARTA again.
"I want to apologize directly to the passengers who experienced this and to everyone who has seen the video and felt its sting. It should never have happened," said an emailed statement attributed to CARTA chief of staff Scott Wilson. "We have zero tolerance for language that demeans or excludes anyone who rides with us.
"For 131 years, the Incline Railway has welcomed visitors from Chattanooga and from around the world. Every passenger who boards our railway deserves to feel respected and welcome, and we are committed to making sure that is always the case."
According to Wilson, the video complaint was the first received about the driver, and he was terminated immediately.
Contact growth and development reporter Raymon Troncoso [email protected] or 423-757-6317.
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