A conductor on Tennessee’s popular Incline Railway was let go after delivering a contentious speech on the Fourth of July that upset many tourists, ultimately going viral.
Jack Peterson, who operated the historic rail system that runs to Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, greeted American riders with a “Happy Independence Day” before addressing visitors from other countries.
“Happy Independence Day to the very, very few Americans here,” he remarked. TikTok videos.
As the train made its way down one of the steepest railways globally, some passengers expressed their displeasure, with one man telling Peterson to “shut up.”
Peterson continued, “The rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on earth. If you don’t agree, you can leave.” The mood in the car grew tense as passengers reacted to his remarks.
Among those riding was Nathan Scherer, who was vacationing with his family, including his father, Charles. He shared the video, which gained over 530,000 views and used hashtags like “racism” and “xenophobia” in reference to Peterson’s comments.
Scherer reported the incident to the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), which oversees the Incline.
Charles Scherer expressed his distress during the ride, saying, “I was really upset the whole time. I thought the company needs to know this, as he represents them.” He also mentioned feeling embarrassed since his granddaughter was present.
Peterson defended himself, claiming he didn’t mean for his comments to offend anyone.
“I’m very patriotic. It was Independence Day, and I was celebrating with my fellow Americans, both Native and non-Native,” he explained. he told the outlet.
He insisted that his belief in America being the best country isn’t racist, noting, “If you don’t believe in making this country better, why are you here?”
What is an incline railway?
CARTA officials shared that Peterson was terminated shortly after receiving the report from his supervisor.
CARTA’s Chief of Staff, Scott Wilson, publicly apologized to those affected by the incident. He stated, “This should never have happened.”
“We have zero tolerance for language that demeans or excludes our fellow passengers,” Wilson added. “For 131 years, the Incline Railroad has welcomed guests from Chattanooga and around the world. Every passenger deserves respect and a warm welcome.”
