FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Many believe Tesla, Inc. stands out as an innovative and
groundbreaking company that is at the forefront of the electric
vehicle revolution. As a result, Owen
Diaz, his son Demetric Di-az,
and Lamar Patterson were thrilled
when they landed work at Tesla's Fremont Factory through contract
staffing agencies. These dreams turned into nightmares when
each was subjected to racial epithets, racist graffiti, and a
hostile work environment. Today they filed suit. This is
the second suit brought by California Civil Rights Law Group in
2017 against Tesla for racial discrimination.
Instead of a modern workplace at Tesla, Plaintiffs encountered a
scene straight from the Jim Crow
era. Plaintiffs endured a culture seeped in the N-word, racial
abuse and racist Pickaninny images drawn on boxes with no
repercussions.
"What these three new cases bring to light is how Tesla's
progressive image seems to be merely a façade papering over
regressive, demeaning treatment of African-Americans – both
employees and contract employees. All three men were targets of
on-going racially motivated abuse, including the frequent use of
racial slurs and Jim Crow-era
graffiti. The plaintiffs complained to their supervisors but
Tesla, Inc. took no effective actions," said Attorney Larry Organ of the California Civil Rights
Group.
Per Wikipedia, "Pickaninny is a racial slur which refers to a
depiction of dark-skinned children of African descent. It is a
racist and derogatory caricature, whose meaning and usage grew to
fruition in the antebellum American south, where race-based slavery
was legal."
The lawsuit was filed in Alameda County Superior Court. It
alleges 16 civil rights and employment law violations as well as
retaliatory and whistleblower violations. A copy of the
filings, racist graffiti, and photographs of the plaintiffs
can be accessed here.
Attorney Larry Organ is available
for comment. The plaintiffs have chosen to do no additional media
interviews.
About the Plaintiffs:
Demetric Di-az
In
August 24, 2015, Di-az signed a
contract to start working at Tesla as a production associate
through the staffing agency West Valley Staffing Solutions. He took
pride in his work and thought it was an honor to work for such a
groundbreaking car company. But things began to change as he
was finding it increasingly difficult to enjoy his job. He was
called "n*****" by co-workers on a daily basis. He also observed
his fellow African-Americans enduring the same
treatment. Di-az found this demeaning and unbearably
offensive. Though he made a complaint to West Valley Staffing
Solutions, there was no response. He then complained to his
superior at Tesla in December of 2015. His superiors' response
was: "if you don't like it, your time here is going to
end. You're just a temp anyway." Shortly thereafter,
Di-az was let go.
Owen Diaz
Owen is the
father of Demetric. He took great pride in working at Tesla's
Fremont Factory with his son. He was contracted to Tesla through
Citistaff. Hired in 2015, Owen was a successful employee whose work
ethic was recognized almost immediately after he began working for
the company.
But he, too, suffered racial abuse. One day, while
delivering lunch to his son, he had to endure watching racial
epithets directed at his son - "All you f****** n****** – I can't
stand you M************." For him, this was one of the most painful
and heart breaking experiences he's had.
Owen and other African-American employees also found images of
Pickaninny graffiti in the Factory. These crude drawings featured
dark-skinned individuals with big lips and bones through their nose
and the epithet "Boo" written underneath.
Diaz eventually quit in 2016 because he could not take the
harassment any longer.
Lamar Patterson
Patterson was excited to join Tesla as an elevator operator
starting in January 2016. He was contracted to Tesla through
Chartwell Staffing Solutions. It did not take him long to learn the
company was a hotbed for racist behavior. Lamar experienced
employees and supervisors using the N word, freely and frequently
throughout the Tesla factory. They would use jokes, such as:
"Go back to Africa, we don't want
you here." Unable to take the abuse and the racially harassing
treatment, Patterson quit in August of 2016.
About California Civil Rights Law Group
The California Civil Rights Law Group, led by prominent trial
attorney Larry Organ, is dedicated
to furthering the cause of employee civil rights throughout the
state. The legal team has made it its priority to provide help to
those who need it the most, and specializes in representing
plaintiffs in matters involving race, sex and disability
harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful
termination. http://www.civilrightsca.com/
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jim-crow-era-racist-graffiti-and-racial-discrimination-found-at-teslas-fremont-plant-300537452.html
SOURCE Larry Organ, California
Civil Rights Law Group