It’s not every day you get to see the president of your country passing by in his motorcade, but for Juli Briskman, excitement was the least emotion she felt when she cycled past President Donald Trump. In fact, she felt the exact opposite.
On October 28, Juli was cycling in Virginia when the American president and his entourage, which included journalists, passed her on their way back from the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling. As the motorcade continued, an angry Juli paid ‘respect’ by flipping her middle finger at them not once but twice.
Unknown to her, one of the photographers with Trump had taken a photo of her making the gesture at them, and the image quickly spread through news outlets and social media.
Juli became an overnight hero for many who had a bone to pick with the administration.
Following her defiant act, Juli said in an interview with Huffington Post, ” “He was passing by and my blood just started to boil.” “ I’m thinking, Daca recipients are getting kicked out. He pulled ads for open enrollment in Obamacare. Only one third of Puerto Rico has power. I’m thinking, he’s at the damn golf course again.”
Briskman, who had been working as a marketing and communication specialist, was called by her bosses, who had seen the viral photo. “They said, ‘We’re separating from you,’” Briskman told the Huffington Post. “Basically, you cannot have lewd or obscene things on your social media.” So they were calling flipping him off obscene.”
She said the company wasn’t pleased with her actions and didn’t want anything to do with someone who had disrespected the president, so she was fired.
The fifty-year-old mother of two, however, does not regret her actions. Support has been pouring in for her from many who thought her getting sacked was unfair treatment and deem her courageous. Some even go as far as sending her flowers to encourage her in her stand against the Donald Trump administration.
Do you think the outcome of her action was worth it at the end of the day?