SC workers fired, students expelled for racist online posts reacting to police protests

The Post and Courier

COLUMBIA — The University of South Carolina, the city of Darlington and Richland County School District One are among organizations statewide firing workers, expelling students and launching investigations after a rash of racist social media responses to the weekend protests over police violence and the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

USC President Bob Caslen said a social media post that endorsed shooting demonstrators and complained of “black thugs” does not represent the values of the university. After an investigation, the student who posted the message is no longer enrolled at the university, a USC spokesman said Monday. 

“Now is not the time for division,” Caslen said in a post on his personal Twitter account. “Our Gamecock family stands as one against racism and social injustice.”