Former Burger King worker raises over $133K after firing over 'Free Palestine' remark
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A former fast-food employee who was fired after saying "Free Palestine" to a customer has raised more than $133,000 through a GoFundMe campaign as she searches for a new job.
The fundraiser, titled "Support Arianna After Job Loss for Free Speech," was launched by Arianna Hamilton after video of the exchange circulated online and led to her dismissal by a local franchisee.
As of Aug. 6, the campaign had raised more than $133,000 from nearly 4,000 donors, putting it more than halfway toward its $220,000 goal.
Read more: Burger King fires employee who told ‘Israeli’ customer “free Palestine”
Incident that led to dismissal
According to Hamilton, the incident began when a customer displayed a Star of David and told her he was from 'Israel' during their interaction.
Hamilton said she responded by saying, "Free Palestine," describing the remark as an expression of her personal views rather than an act of discrimination or harassment.
"My whole point of saying 'Free Palestine' was not to spread hate," Hamilton said in a video posted after the incident. "I was simply exercising my freedom of speech."
The parent company later responded to inquiries by reaffirming its non-discrimination policies and confirming that the independently owned franchise had taken action regarding the employee's conduct.
Fundraiser gains widespread support
Following her termination, Hamilton launched the GoFundMe campaign, saying the public attention surrounding the incident has made it difficult to secure new employment.
"Some places have misunderstood me, and I'm worried about being unfairly judged, which has made my job search even harder," she wrote on the fundraising page.
Hamilton said the money will help cover essential living expenses, including rent, utilities, groceries, and other basic needs while she continues looking for work.
In a recent update to supporters, she expressed gratitude for the donations.
"Thank you all so much for supporting me," Hamilton wrote. "I will continue to speak my truth."
