Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen announced the firing of Assistant District Attorney Berkley Mason due to troubling social media posts that were deemed racist and offensive. The decision, made public on Monday, comes after Knox News inquired about Mason’s online activity, which included endorsements of Nazis and derogatory comments about Black individuals and immigrants.
Mason, who had been employed by the district attorney’s office since October 2024 after graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Law, allegedly posted under the pseudonym “Southern Appalacholic.” His posts reportedly included statements that go beyond political commentary, including calls for violence against migrants and assertions blaming Black individuals for societal issues.
One particularly disturbing post suggested, “We need more migrant killers and less killer migrants,” while another reference contained symbols commonly associated with white supremacy, such as “HH” for “Heil Hitler” and “1488.” Allen indicated that Mason expressed intentions to manipulate legal processes for the sake of achieving discriminatory goals, calling for “whatever means necessary” to remove individuals from the community.
In response to these revelations, Allen stated she would review cases previously handled by Mason to determine if any corrective action is needed. This proactive measure underscores her commitment to maintaining a fair and just legal system in Knox County.
The swift action taken by Allen highlights the importance of accountability in law enforcement and the necessity for professionals in the justice system to uphold values that promote equality and respect for all individuals. This incident serves as a reminder of the significant impact that social media behavior can have on an individual’s professional integrity and the values of the institutions they represent.