Current:Home > NewsA U.S. federal agency is suing Exxon after 5 nooses were found at a Louisiana complex-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
A U.S. federal agency is suing Exxon after 5 nooses were found at a Louisiana complex
View Date:2024-12-23 21:19:54
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency, said it was suing ExxonMobil after several nooses were discovered at the company's complex in Baton Rouge, La.
The EEOC said ExxonMobil failed to take action after a Black employee discovered a noose at his work station at the chemical plant in January 2020. At the time, it was the fourth noose uncovered at the Baton Rouge site — and a fifth was found at the end of that year.
ExxonMobil allegedly "investigated some, but not all, of the prior incidents and failed to take measures reasonably calculated to end the harassment" which resulted in "a racially hostile work environment," according to the EEOC's statement on Thursday. ExxonMobil's lack of action, the federal agency alleges, was a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
"A noose is a longstanding symbol of violence associated with the lynching of African Americans," Elizabeth Owen, a senior trial attorney for the EEOC's New Orleans office, said in the statement. "Such symbols are inherently threatening and significantly alter the workplace environment for Black Americans."
"Even isolated displays of racially threatening symbols are unacceptable in American workplaces," Michael Kirkland, director of the EEOC's New Orleans field office, added.
ExxonMobil did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment. On Friday, a company spokesperson told NBC News that it disagreed with the federal agency's findings.
"We encourage employees to report claims like this, and we thoroughly investigated," the spokesperson said. "The symbols of hate are unacceptable, offensive, and in violation of our corporate policies."
The EEOC filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, after it said it tried to reach a settlement.
The incident is one of several alarming discoveries of nooses on display in the past few years. In November, a noose was discovered at the Obama Presidential Center construction site in Chicago. In May 2022, a noose was found hanging from a tree at Stanford University. In May 2021, Amazon halted construction of a warehouse after several nooses were uncovered at a site in Connecticut. And in June 2020, nooses were found at a public park in Oakland, Calif.
veryGood! (17)
Related
- Louisiana House greenlights Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax cuts
- Michigan Supreme Court says businesses can’t get state compensation over pandemic closures
- Tennis star Caroline Garcia another example of athletes being endangered by gamblers
- Family of 3 killed in series of shootings that ended on Maine bridge identified
- Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris
- Man arrested in Colorado dog breeder’s killing, but the puppies are still missing
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Broken Lease
- Trump courts conservative male influencers to try to reach younger men
- Conviction and 7-year sentence for Alex Murdaugh’s banker overturned in appeal of juror’s dismissal
- Alabama anti-DEI law shuts Black Student Union office, queer resource center at flagship university
Ranking
- DWTS' Sasha Farber Claps Back at Diss From Jenn Tran's Ex Devin Strader
- Governor appoints ex-school board member recalled over book ban push to Nebraska’s library board
- A measure to repeal a private school tuition funding law in Nebraska will make the November ballot
- College football games you can't miss from Week 1 schedule start with Georgia-Clemson
- Wicked's Ethan Slater Shares How Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Set the Tone on Set
- Ulta Flash Deals Starting at $9.50: You Have 24 Hours to Get 50% off MAC, IGK, Bondi Boost, L'ange & More
- Gun Violence On Oahu’s West Side Has Parents And Teachers Worried About School Safety
- Richard Simmons' final days: Fitness guru deferred medical care to spend birthday at home
Recommendation
-
What is ‘Doge’? Explaining the meme and cryptocurrency after Elon Musk's appointment to D.O.G.E.
-
New Hampshire’s highest court upholds policy supporting transgender students’ privacy
-
As Mike McCarthy enters make-or-break year, unprecedented scrutiny awaits Cowboys coach
-
Social media is filled with skin care routines for girls. Here’s what dermatologists recommend
-
Kevin Costner says he hasn't watched John Dutton's fate on 'Yellowstone': 'Swear to God'
-
Target's viral Lewis the Pumpkin Ghoul is sneaking into stores, but won't likely lurk long
-
Contract security officers leave jail in Atlanta after nonpayment of contract
-
Sister Wives' Robyn and Kody Brown List $1.65 Million Home for Sale