Georgia School Employee Fired After Calling Michelle Obama A 'Gorilla' On Facebook
ATLANTA (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Officials with a Georgia school district say an employee has been fired after she described First Lady Michelle Obama as a gorilla on Facebook.
Forsyth County Schools said in a statement that Chestatee Elementary School paraprofessional Jane Wood Allen was fired Monday. The statement says "racism and discrimination are not tolerated" in the school district.
"Effective Monday, October 3, 2016, Jane Wood Allen has been relieved from duty and is no longer an employee of Forsyth County Schools. Racism and discrimination are not tolerated in our school district. We are committed to ongoing staff training on the acceptance of all individuals. As this is a personnel matter, the district will provide no further comment," the school district told CBS Atlanta affiliate WGCL-TV.
District spokeswoman Jennifer Caracciolo confirmed Monday that the decision to fire Allen was made after officials learned of the Facebook postings.
Allen referred to the first lady as a "gorilla" in a Facebook post.
"This poor gorilla. How is she going to function in the real world, by not having all her luxurious vacations paid for anymore? She needs to focus on getting a total make-over (especially the hair), instead of planning vacations! She is a disgrace to America!" Allen wrote.
No one answered the phone Monday at a number listed for Allen. The number wasn't set up to allow voicemail messages.
News media outlets first reported the posts last week during the district's fall break.
Allen's Facebook page was no longer visible Monday.
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