A Walmart manager in Hamburg, New York was fired after his employer saw a post on his Facebook mocking traditional Muslim clothing, according to the Buffalo News.
Walmart employee Terry Earsing posted a picture of two customers in traditional dress, accompanied by a caption which read "Halloween came early this year ... do they really have to ... dress like that ... your in my country ... get that ... off!!!!!"
Earsing was let go following a request made to Walmart by the New York chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to discipline their employee.
"As soon as we became aware, we began looking into this and as a result, this associate is no longer with the company," said spokeswoman Kayla Whaling. "We set high expectations for our associates, and this associate clearly failed to meet these expectations at every level."
In a phone interview with the Buffalo News, Earsing apologized for his Facebook rant and said it was nothing more than a joke.
"I'm truly, honestly sorry about the whole thing. I just apologize. I don't know what else I can say," he said.
The New York chapter of CAIR expressed praise for Walmart for acting so quickly.
"We absolutely commend them for doing the right thing," said board chairman Ryan Mahoney. "I wish this person didn't take this course of action and force this outcome."
Mahoney said that the organization became concerned after realizing the photo was taken while Earsing was at work.
"Because he did it at his job, it's not about personal expression, it's about Wal-Mart's policy toward hate speech," he added.
According to Earsing, he uploaded the picture while he was home after a friend had sent it to him.
"I didn't do it from work," he said.
