Posted April 06, 2018 10:31:08

Photo: Juli Briskman says Americans shouldn't have to choose between "principles and their pay cheques". (Twitter: @juli_briskman)

The woman who lost her job after giving the middle finger to US President Donald Trump's motorcade is suing her employer.

Juli Briskman was on a weekend bike ride in October last year and was photographed making the offensive gesture when Mr Trump's motorcade drove by.

Her face was not visible, but she told her bosses at Akima LLC what happened after the photo went viral.

Ms Briskman claims she was forced to resign for breaching Akima's social media policy after she posted the photo on her Facebook page.

She did not mention Akima.

In a lawsuit filed in Virginia, Ms Briskman claims Akima LLC violated state employment law because it forced her to resign not because of the gesture but rather out of fear the government contractor would face retaliation.

Ms Briskman said Americans should not have to choose between "principles and their pay cheques".

"Criticism of our leaders should be encouraged," Ms Briskman tweeted.

"For a government contractor to fire me for fear of govt. retaliation is an affront to that right and to our democracy."

Akima has not replied to requests for comment.

AP/ABC

Topics: donald-trump, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, offbeat, united-states