A Pennsylvania cop is under fire for a TikTok live video in which he defended the Confederate flag and made racist, sexist and other controversial comments while he was on duty.
Officer Brian Gossert, a Mansfield Borough Police Department officer, was live on TikTok in full uniform when he began defending the Confederate flag and at one point carried out an arrest.
“I don’t understand how (the Confederate flag) is racist, it represents the South. Just like the Union flag represents the North. No one says that the union flag is racist. So why are we saying the Confederate flag is racist?” he said.
“Well they fought against the North. So yeah, technically they fought for slavery, I guess you could say, but again, that’s been over 200 years ago, I think it’s time that people just like, get the f*** over themselves. Because, if, if that’s true. If the symbolism behind that flag is still that hurtful now, then we should still hate the south. So, why hate them for something that no one is alive from anymore,” he continued.
The TikTok account has since been deleted, but the video was screen recorded and shared on social media.
Mansfield Borough Manager Christopher McGann told 18 News the department is aware the situation, but declined to comment on the officer’s current status.
Video from 18 news:
