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S.C. fireman fired over online threat to Black Lives Matter protesters

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A fire department captain in South Carolina's capital has been dismissed for posting on social media that he would run over protesters if they were still blocking traffic when his shift ended.

CBS affiliate WLTX reports that Capt. Jimmy Morris was fired Monday over Facebook posts about Black Lives Matter protesters.

Protesters closed an intersection near the Statehouse and prompted the closing of a section of interstate late Sunday. They were among the dozens of protests nationwide against police violence that came after blacks were killed by police in Minnesota and Louisiana.

In one post, Morris said the "idiots" blocking traffic "better not be there when I get off work or there is gonna be some run over dumb a----."

Morris did not respond to several messages left at telephone numbers listed with his name.

Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said "A member of the Columbia Fire Department has discredited the reputation of the men and women who serve this Department. This decision was made to ensure our communities that the Columbia Fire Department will not condone or tolerate this type of unprofessional behavior by any employee."

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