Cook Resigns From Job At Berkeley Hot Dog Stand After Charlottesville Protest
BERKELEY (CBS SF) -- A famed Berkeley hot dog stand announced Monday that an employee who attended a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia resigned from his job after he was outed as a white supremacist on social media.
Top Dog posted a notice outside its building on Sunday saying Cole White who was identified as a white supremacist demonstrator on Twitter was no longer an employee.
"Effective Saturday 12th August, Cole White no longer works at Top Dog. The actions of those in Charlottesville are not supported by Top Dog. We believe in individual freedom and voluntary association for everyone" -- the poster read.
The owners Top Dog, which has been in business since 1966, chose to make no other comment Saturday leading to reports that White had been fired.
On Monday, Top Dog issued a statement saying, "we spoke with Cole White. During that conversation Cole chose to voluntarily resign his employment with Top Dog and we accepted his resignation."
The company said, "There have been reports that he was terminated. Those reports are false. There have been reports that Top Dog knowingly employs racists and promotes racist theology. That too is false."
"We pride ourselves on embracing and respecting all our differences and every individual's choice to do as that person wishes within the boundaries of the law," Top Dog officials said. "We do respect our employees' right to their opinions. They are free to make their own choices, but must accept the responsibilities of those choices."
"Individual freedom and voluntary exchange are core to the philosophy of Top Dog," the company said.
VIOLENCE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE:
• GoDaddy Boots Neo-Nazi Site After Deadly Charlottesville Attack
• UNR Student Receives Death Threats After Charlottesville Torch March
• Trump Condemns Hate Groups In New Statement On Charlottesville
• No Arrests In Oakland After 2nd Night Of Charlottesville Protests
• Continuing Coverage
Following the resignation, Berkeley police received information about a credible threat made against the business, Sgt. Andrew Frankel said.
Police kept their eye on Top Dog's three locations overnight and officers will be making extra patrols this week.
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