VCU Health has fired an employee after a video went viral on social media showing a woman encouraging people to poison federal immigration agents.
The employee in the video was identified on social media as Melinda Cook. VCU Health said in a statement that the videos “appear to have been posted by an individual confirmed to be an employee of our health system.”
In the videos, she encouraged people to carry needle syringes that contain a temporary paralysis drug as a deterrent against ICE agents.
Cook also encouraged people to gather poison ivy, mix it with water and put it into a water gun.
“Aim for faces….hands,” she said in the video
In another video, Cook told women to go on dates with agents and poison their food.
“The single ladies where these ICE guys are going have a chance to do something, you know — not without risk — but could help the cause,” she said, telling her followers to put Ex-Lax in ICE agents’ drinks.
“The content of the videos is highly inappropriate and does not reflect the integrity or values of our health system,” VCU Health said Tuesday.
VCU Health initially said its police department was investigating the incident. The school then announced Tuesday night that the employee was terminated.
“In addition, VCU Health has fulfilled its reporting requirements under Virginia state law,” they said.
VCU Health is a state school and receives millions in funding from the General Assembly each year.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
State Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, called for Cook’s termination on Tuesday afternoon and a review of VCU’s hiring practices.
“We need to hear from VCU Health today that if this person is in fact associated with VCU, that she is no longer employed and that appropriate action has been taken with regard to this person’s license,” Sturtevant wrote on social media. “We further need an explanation as to what hiring practices and oversight by a state-funded hospital allowed this person to become and remain employed.”