A Tennessee transit agency has fired a part-time railway conductor after a video of him making patriotic remarks to passengers on July 4 circulated online. The conductor, identified as Jack Peterson, was recorded saying, 'To the very, very few Americans in here, happy Independence Day. To the rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave.'
The video, posted on TikTok by Nathan Scherer, also captured a passenger responding with 'Shut up.' The incident occurred on the Incline Railway, a historic attraction operated by the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA).
CARTA's chief of staff, Scott Wilson, issued a statement apologizing to passengers and viewers of the video, stating, 'I want to apologize directly to the passengers who experienced this, and to everyone who has seen the video and felt its sting. It should never have happened.' Wilson emphasized the agency's zero-tolerance policy for language that demeans or excludes passengers, noting the Incline Railway's long history of welcoming visitors from around the world.
The Incline Railway, which opened in 1887, is part of Lookout Mountain Attractions. A director at the railway met with Peterson on the day of the incident and immediately terminated his employment. The agency confirmed Peterson's dismissal in a statement shared with local media.