ATLANTA - To whom it may Concern at the Winn-Dixie Corporation:
Dear Gentle Folks,
I am deeply saddened and troubled by the need for today’s events in Florida. I am wavering between tears of grief and waves of anger over the ill treatment of a former Winn-Dixie employee, Peter Oiler who did nothing wrong except to express her correct gender outside of company time. The obvious assassination of an activist, Terrianne Summers, who was simply trying to get Winn-Dixie to admit they had acted unfairly. The devastating images of this woman gunned down in her own driveway, bring us to our knees in agony and prayer. Images of the officers of the Winn-Dixie Corporation acting out of fear, loathing and bigotry for what they only thought would be bad public relations makes us throughout the Southeast wonder what kind of people run this company.
Winn-Dixie today also now bears some of the responsibility in the death of a person who is a child of God. This kind of violence while all too common in this country, once again speaks out loudly and painfully of what intolerance, hate and bigotry can do to all of God's creation. And while we wait for answers, our faith leads us to say to Winn-Dixie: Do the right thing! Do an act of justice, Yes do the right thing and enact personnel policies immediately that state with all authority, each and every employee will be judged solely on how they do their jobs and terminations will not be based on -- discriminatory factors, including sexual stereotypes, gender identity, expressions or characteristics of that gender identity.
Yes, do the right thing! For the love of God do it today!
Rev. Paul M. Turner
Sr. Pastor
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