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Bob Goosmann’s Facebook Post About DNC Parading Mothers Of Dead ‘Thugs’ Makes Weatherman Lose Job

By Paula Mooney
Published on: 10:36 PST, Jul 31, 2016

Bob Goosmann is one former weatherman who learned that calling a group of dead African-Americans killed by police “thugs” on Facebook is something that could make Goosmann lose his job. As reported by the New York Daily News, Goosmann wrote a Facebook post on July 27, at 5:08 p.m., which called all of the African-Americans who were killed by police whose mothers stood on the stage of the DNC “thugs,” without distinguishing one person from the next — nor naming any victim in particular.

“As many of you have probably noticed, I’ve stayed away from politics on FB. The DNC parading the mothers of slain thugs around on their stage has me furious.”

Bob was referring to the so-dubbed “Mothers of the Movement” group — including the mothers of Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Trayvon Martin, who took to the stage of the Democratic National Convention to proclaim their allegiance to Hillary Clinton, whom they praised for not being afraid to say that black lives matter. Meanwhile, Goosmann — once a chief meteorologist for KRLD-AM out of Dallas — viewed the Mothers of the Movement not as a group of grieving moms, but as pawns for the DNC.

thugs
[Photo by Paul Sancya/AP Images]
Backlash over Goosmann’s words on Facebook ended up costing Bob his weatherman job. Goosmann gave his notice and resigned from the Dallas AM station on Friday after his “thugs” comments about black victims of police violence drew the attention of famous folks like Roland Martin.

As seen in the below tweet from Martin’s official Twitter account, Roland wrote that he was stunned by Bob’s words.

Although Goosmann deleted his Facebook post about “thugs,” the damage was done in terms of some folks reacting to Goosmann’s comments on social media.

As reported by the Dallas News, Goosmann tried to defend himself by saying that he had no idea that certain folks would consider Bob’s “thugs” comment as racist. Goosmann claimed that he was simply mad at the DNC and that Bob assumed thugs just meant a violent person.

“I was angry that the DNC used these mothers to garner votes, and that was it. I used the word thugs in my post, but I thought a thug was just a violent person. The definition of thug does not mention any race. I will say I talked with an African American acquaintance and he told me that he feels like when he hears the word, it is in reference to an African American individual. I had NO IDEA.”

Goosmann did not explain the actions of each of the murdered people in detail. Therefore, with Bob painting all of the victims as “thugs” with one broad brushstroke, Bob soon felt the wrath of folks responding to his “thugs” comment on Facebook.

Facebook user Dawnlena Deans-Malone made the following comment.

“I don’t understand what is wrong with people. Tamar Rice was a child playing with a fake gun. How is he a thug? Trayvon was walking home with candy and juice, how was he a thug? Sandra Bland was driving her car to her new job location, how is she a thug? You can’t make these careless racist statements and believe that people will sit silently. We no longer have to tolerate this and it will cost you!”

thugs
[Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/AP Images]
Other Facebook users stuck by Bob’s side. Facebook Janice Smith-Elliott? wrote to Goosmann that there was nothing racist in his controversial Facebook post.

“You wrote nothing racial in your post! Unbelievable.”

?G David Hawkins? wrote similar sentiments on Facebook.

“Just read and reposted on the recent events. You’ll land on your feet. Peoples’ memories are short these days. You were shafted…all the best amigo!”

[Photo by Paul Sancya/AP Images]

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