A high school teacher from New Jersey was removed from his position this week after he allegedly cursed at students.
Howard Zlotkin, a former teacher at Dickinson High School, reportedly launched into an expletive-filled rant as he taught a class via Zoom on Wednesday, according to NBC News.
In a conversation that began on the topic of climate change, Zlotkin allegedly started to air out his personal frustrations and give his opinion on the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man whose murder led to nationwide protests last summer.
“If you think I’m privileged, then f— you, because my daughter thinks I’m privileged and I don’t speak to her,” Zlotkin reportedly said in a recording of the Zoom classroom session.
According to his former student Timmia Williams, 17, Zlotkin allegedly focused his rant toward Black students, the outlet noted.
“I hear people whining and crying about Black Lives Matter, but George Floyd was a f—ing criminal and he got arrested and he got killed because he wouldn’t comply and the bottom line is we make him a f—ing hero,” Zlotkin reportedly said.
Former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, who placed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, earlier this month was found guilty on three charges in the murder.
Williams said that Zlotkin called on four Black girls and requested that they provide an essay for class. She told NBC New York that her mother contacted the school board following the incident, but did not immediately hear back.
Jersey City Public Schools confirmed in a Friday statement to NBC News that Zlotkin was removed from his teaching role.
Zlotkin also teaches at a local college, according to NBC News.