Current:Home > MarketsA U.S. federal agency is suing Exxon after 5 nooses were found at a Louisiana complex -Wealth Legacy Solutions
A U.S. federal agency is suing Exxon after 5 nooses were found at a Louisiana complex
View
Date:2025-04-15 11:02:17
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! (6)
Related
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Court blocks Mississippi ban on voting after some crimes, but GOP official will appeal ruling
- Michigan man wins $1.1 million on Mega Money Match lottery ticket
- RSV prevention shot for babies gets OK from CDC
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Search continues for beloved teacher who went missing 1 week ago
- Lunchables adding fresh fruit to new snack tray, available in some stores this month
- Employers add 187,000 jobs as hiring remains solid
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Brush fire kills 2 and destroys 9 homes in suburban Tacoma, Washington
Ranking
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Remote volcano in Alaska spews new ash cloud, prompting aviation warnings
- Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills acquitted on rape, kidnapping charges in Ohio
- Pope greeted like rockstar, appears revitalized at 'Catholic Woodstock' in Portugal
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Deion Sanders makes sly remark about Oregon, college football realignment
- Pakistani police arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan
- 2 police officers injured in traffic stop shooting; suspect fatally shot in Orlando
Recommendation
Average rate on 30
Parkland shooting reenacted using 139 live bullets as part of lawsuit
Slain Parkland victim's father speaks out following reenactment
FDA approves zuranolone, first pill for postpartum depression
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Ricky Rubio stepping away from basketball to focus on mental health
Parkland shooting reenacted using 139 live bullets as part of lawsuit
Man who tried to enter Jewish school with a gun fired twice at a construction worker, police say