In a surprising turn of events that has sparked widespread public outrage and debate, a Black waitress in New Hampshire was abruptly fired after helping former Trump White House staffer and current GOP congressional candidate Karoline Leavitt during a campaign stop. What transpired in the following 24 hours not only stunned the community but also ignited a viral movement online.
The incident occurred last Friday at a quaint local diner just outside of Manchester. Leavitt, who is running for a congressional seat in New Hampshire, reportedly visited the establishment as part of a low-key campaign trail stop. According to eyewitnesses, she was recognized by a few patrons, some of whom approached her for photos and handshakes.
Amid the lunchtime bustle, 27-year-old waitress Jada Simmons offered to assist Leavitt when her server failed to appear. Simmons, who had been working at the diner for over two years, said she was simply trying to be helpful.
“I saw her waiting, and no one was helping,” Simmons recalled. “It didn’t matter to me who she was politically. She was a customer, and I was doing my job.”
Leavitt and her campaign team were reportedly polite and appreciative of the service. However, when Simmons clocked out at the end of her shift, her manager handed her a termination notice without warning.
According to Simmons, the manager cited “conflict with company values” and said that engaging with “polarizing political figures” was against their internal policy. The explanation left Simmons stunned.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I was courteous and professional. I didn’t even talk politics,” she said tearfully in an interview. “I treated her like I treat everyone.”
The firing was swift and final. But the story didn’t end there.
By Saturday morning, social media was ablaze. A video taken by another customer showing Simmons serving Leavitt with a smile had surfaced online. The clip was picked up by conservative influencers and later amplified by Leavitt herself, who tweeted: “Jada was kind, respectful, and professional. She should be praised, not punished.”
Within hours, the hashtag #JusticeForJada began trending on X (formerly Twitter). Public figures across the political spectrum weighed in, with some calling the termination “an egregious abuse of discretion” and others questioning whether the diner’s actions were racially motivated.
Civil rights advocates quickly entered the conversation. The New England branch of the ACLU released a statement condemning the firing as “deeply troubling” and announced plans to look into whether Simmons’ rights had been violated.
