Penalty

Franklin Templeton has now fired Amy Cooper.

“I don’t think there’s an African American person in America who hasn’t experienced something like this at some point,” Christian Cooper, a 57-year-old science editor, told The Washington Post in an interview. “I don’t shy away from confronting the scofflaw when I see it. Otherwise, the park would be unusable — not just to us birders but to anybody who enjoys the beauty.”

Christian Cooper — who is not related to Amy — had gotten up early on Memorial Day to head to the Ramble, a heavily wooded section of Central Park designed to resemble a wild garden. With its rocky outcrops and thick canopy, the area makes for an especially inviting stopover for birds on their northward migration, he said.

The novel coronavirus shut down the city this spring along with its busy dog runs. Authorities wanted to ensure pets’ humans were staying six feet apart, and the Ramble — already an occasional target for loose puppies — became a canine playground.

On a nearly daily basis, Cooper had seen unleashed pooches digging up the soil, ruining the delicate habitat and disturbing the birds. He had often asked unaware owners to restrain their pets, sometimes on camera, he said, and he carried around some dog treats for this very purpose. Monday morning was no different.

Around 7:30 a.m., he spotted rowdy, 2-year-old Henry grazing through the brush, as his human, an investment manager in yoga pants and a face mask, was standing right by a sign saying all dogs must be leashed.

He asked her to leash her dog, she refused, he started recording, she made a false report to the police. (I wonder if that will become a criminal matter. She’s admitted to doing it, and the police don’t look kindly on swatting.)

As of early Tuesday, the video had been viewed nearly 20 million times. Her employer, the investment firm Franklin Templeton, initially said it had placed her on administrative leave, but on Tuesday said that “[after?] our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately.”

She was never going to be good PR for them after this.

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