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Rangers at Yosemite National Park claim they were fired after attending a demonstration in support of the transgender community.
“SJ” Jocelyn announced Monday that his First Amendment rights to free speech have been violated after being fired in May for carrying a Transpride flag across Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan.
Jocelyn says at the time they were off the clock and didn’t use the park’s resources to hang the flag. Jocelyn added that the reason they were given to let go was because they “didn’t demonstrate any acceptable behavior” as wildlife biologists.
In a statement from Yosemite National Park, authorities said “The National Park Service is pursuing administrative measures against multiple National Park Service employees because the National Park Service failed to comply with National Park Service regulations.”
Over the past four and a half years at this position, Jocelyn says he’s gone far more for the park and the local community in Yosemite.
“SJ is a respected pillar and tireless volunteer within the Yosemite community, and is consistently moving towards ensuring the safety of visitors in one of the most respected national parks in the country.” “To strip SJ of their position is not only a frustration against their personal freedoms, but an attack on the very values of the service, dedication and community that SJ embodies. This is to silence those who oppose injustice, and we must not let it happen.”
Jocelyn believes their ending is a violation of their first amendments and is in direct conflict with President Trump’s executive order earlier this year to “restore freedom of speech and end federal censorship.”
“Our team followed all the rules written and unwritten, left no trace and respected the accepted traditions of Yosemite. It represents acceptance and safety within the park that was trans flagged. If this administration tells the park rangers, we are not permitted to have the right to free speech as civilians, Jocelyn said.
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