Racism bedevils Texas town

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Source: Chicago Trib

Allegations of discrimination in plant are latest flare-up in Paris


HOUSTON — Only a few weeks ago, race relations had reached such a low point in the troubled east Texas town of Paris that federal Justice Department mediators were called in to try to bring together black and white citizens, but the public meeting quickly dissolved into rancor.

Now fresh racial tensions are erupting inside one of the town's biggest employers, the Turner Industries pipe fabrication plant, where black employees charge that hangman's nooses, Confederate flags and racist graffiti have been appearing throughout the workplace for months.

One worker, Karl Mitchell, took pictures of the offensive symbols in early February and filed a formal complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week. Other African-American employees assert that they've repeatedly complained about the racist symbols to their bosses, only to be ignored or told to keep quiet.

"Somebody had to step forward," said Mitchell, who also alleges a pattern of wage and promotion discrimination at the plant stretching back nearly two years. "They are so wide-open with and so certain that African-Americans aren't going to say anything about it."

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-paris_webfeb25,0,4203830.story

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A noose inside Turner Industries in Paris, Texas. Racist graffiti, a hangmanÂ’s noose and a Confederate flag have reportedly been displayed for months to intimidate black employees. Photo taken in January by Karl Mitchell, 41, an employee at the Turner Industries plant who has also filed a formal EEOC complaint alleging a pattern of discrimination at the plant. (Photo by Karl Mitchell / February 24, 2009)