Woman Loses Job After ‘Harassing’ Black Fisherman at Neighborhood Lake

In a recent incident that went viral on TikTok, a white woman in Georgia faced repercussions for her actions after harassing a Black man, Anthony Gibson, while he was peacefully fishing in his own neighborhood.

The incident sheds light on the ongoing racial tensions and prejudices that persist in various communities.

The Incident at the Lake

Anthony Gibson was enjoying a quiet fishing session at a lake in his Newnan neighborhood when he was approached by the white woman.

She began interrogating him with a series of questions, asking, “Are you guys residents here?”

When Gibson’s companion retorted with, “Are we bothering anyone?”, she further asserted, “This lake is for residents only.” Upon realizing that Gibson was recording the interaction, she claimed that he didn’t have her permission to film her.

Gibson, who boasts a significant following on TikTok with over 46,000 followers and 1.3 million likes on the video, expressed his frustration in the video, stating,

“This is the third person, y’all. I’m in my own neighborhood and a white person came and bothered me while I’m fishing.”

He further emphasized his rights, mentioning,

“This is my phone; I can do whatever I want; I studied the law.”

Employer’s Response to the Incident

The woman’s actions did not go unnoticed. After the video went viral, her employer, Sea Glass Therapy, took swift action.

The company announced on Facebook that the woman, identified as an independent contractor named Tanya, had been terminated from her position.

In their statement, Sea Glass Therapy emphasized their commitment to inclusivity, stating,

“Sea Glass Therapy is a place of acceptance, healing, and inclusion of all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or background. We stand against discrimination of all forms. We have terminated our business relationship with the independent contractor, Tanya, in order to uphold our values and standards. We strive to be a service to our community and do whatever we can to accommodate the needs of it, operating with integrity.”

Not an Isolated Incident

Keenen Gibson’s account of being harassed and reported to police while fishing in his own neighborhood lines up with the larger systemic issue of anti-Black prejudice. Black individuals across America regularly face suspicion and profiling simply for existing in public spaces, whether parks, trails, or even their own communities.^[1]

The deeply ingrained racism that views blackness as inherently suspicious results in black people being questioned, monitored, and threatened just for everyday activities like birdwatching or fishing.^[2]

Gibson’s experience exemplifies the discrimination and lack of belonging black individuals frequently endure outdoors, highlighting the need to actively dismantle prejudiced assumptions.

No one should feel unsafe or be targeted due to the color of their skin.

Actual progress requires making the outdoors positively welcoming for people of all races.

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Sources

1. latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-17/being-black-in-nature-racism-public-spaces
2. sierraclub.org/articles/2020/06/black-lives-matter-outdoors-too

This article was produced and syndicated by Viral Chatter. It was inspired by this video:

@fishingbay2ga I Get harassed when i Go fishing because these privileged people don’t think i live in this nice neighborhood!
#racistneighborhood
#fishinggonewrong
#ijustwanttofish
#oldladyharrassingme
#iliveinthisneighborhood
♬ original sound – fishingbay2ga