Man Who Shouted “Go Back to Haiti!” at Winsome Sears at JMU Is Fired; Fairfax Police Say Harassment Claim Won’t Be Criminally Investigated
On October 19, 2025, Scott Pogorelc shouted “Go back to Haiti!” at Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears during a James Madison University football game; the viral incident led to his firing and a police decision not to pursue criminal charges.
Key takeaways
- Racial taunt caught on camera: Scott Pogorelc shouted “Go back to Haiti!” and called Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears a “traitor” at a JMU game.
- Employment consequences: Pogorelc was fired from Zeta Associates, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, after the video circulated.
- Police response: Fairfax County police reviewed a harassment report filed by Pogorelc but said it did not meet the threshold for a criminal investigation.
- Earle-Sears’s reply: The lieutenant governor rejected the slur, asserting America is her home and reaffirming her service and resolve.
Incident details: what the video shows and how Earle-Sears reacted
Video captured a man in the stands shouting at Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears as she passed by during the James Madison University football game on Oct. 19, 2025. The man’s words — “Go back to Haiti!” — and the additional phrase calling her a “traitor” were recorded and spread widely online.
The clip was posted as a video posted online and circulated quickly. Observers noted the particular sting of the slur given Earle-Sears’s background as a Jamaican‑born U.S. citizen and Marine Corps veteran.
“I have nowhere to go back to because America is my home,” Earle-Sears said, rejecting the attempt to cast her as an outsider and saying such attacks would not break her resolve.
(Source: Fox News)
Viral spread and public reaction
Within hours the clip circulated across social platforms and news sites. The backlash was broad, with voices from many perspectives condemning the exchange as racist and unacceptable at a public sporting event.
Commentators framed the episode variously as a matter of civility at public events, evidence of persistent racialized attacks in politics, and a test of how institutions respond when private conduct becomes public. Many praised Earle-Sears for a measured response that emphasized her service and identity.
(Coverage includes reporting from iNews Zoombangla and the video of the incident.)
Employment fallout: Scott Pogorelc firing
Days after the video went viral, Zeta Associates — a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin — announced Pogorelc was no longer employed by the company. Officials said his conduct violated standards for ethics and integrity and that they would not tolerate behavior that conflicts with company values.
Context: The decision underscores how employers increasingly scrutinize employees’ off‑duty conduct when it becomes public and affects corporate reputation.
(Source: Hudson Valley Beacon)
Harassment complaint and police response
After his firing, Pogorelc filed a police report alleging harassment stemming from the viral attention. Fairfax County Police reviewed the complaint through their threat assessment unit and concluded the information did not meet the criteria needed to open a criminal investigation.
That finding means there is no current criminal investigation tied to Pogorelc’s harassment claim. Law enforcement distinguished between public backlash — including social media scrutiny — and criminal acts such as direct threats or stalking that meet statutory thresholds.
(Source: Hudson Valley Beacon)
Connections and context
Reporting indicates Pogorelc is from Centreville, Virginia, and was a senior engineer at Zeta Associates. Media accounts note he’d been a Democratic donor, including contributions to Abigail Spanberger, and that he attended the JMU game because his son plays on the team.
Those details have prompted commentary about how public insults can come from unexpected quarters, but most observers focused on the words used and the broader harm they do to civic discourse.
(Source: Hudson Valley Beacon)
Broader pattern of attacks against Earle-Sears
This incident is part of a pattern of racially charged attacks faced by Earle-Sears during her public life and campaign. Earlier episodes included a protest sign at an Arlington County school board meeting that critics said implied racially segregated water fountains, drawing renewed attention to threats she faces as a Black woman in politics.
Earle-Sears has consistently rejected victimhood publicly and reasserted her American identity and Marine Corps service as central to her message and public image.
(Source: Hudson Valley Beacon)
Implications for Utah
The episode has potential resonance beyond Virginia. Employers in states with defense and aerospace sectors — including Utah — may re‑examine codes of conduct and social media policies after seeing a contractor move quickly to fire an employee whose off‑duty actions drew public condemnation.
For Utah’s political and civic communities, the incident becomes a talking point about civility, respect for veterans and public servants, and the responsibilities of fans and attendees at public events. Schools, employers, and venues may consider clearer fan conduct rules and social media guidance for students and staff.
Sources
Reporting from Times Media Service
