CDCR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF BLACK PRISONERS

CITY OF LONG BEACH CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

On June 8, 2021 Medina Orthwein LLP filed a race discrimination class action lawsuit against the City of Long Beach. The complaint alleges that the City discriminated against its Black employees by denying them equal opportunity, pay and promotions, failing to protect them from harassment, and subjecting them to unnecessary discipline.

PLAINTIFFS CHRIS STUART, DONNELL RUSSELL, AND ERIC BAILEY COMMENT ON THE LAWSUIT.

Plaintiff Chris Stuart

Plaintiff Donnell Russell

Plaintiff Eric Bailey

Chris Stuart: “My name is Chris and I am 31 years old. I work in the Technology & Innovation department. I am the only Black person in my division. This is problematic and the opposite of racial equity. Worse yet, leadership is overtly racist and it is troubling to work in an environment like this. Nobody should have to work in these conditions where your basic humanity is questioned. We want the pay and promotion policies to change. We want transparency and equity. We thank all the employees and community leaders who are supporting our efforts for lasting change.”

Donnell Russell: “Today, we are here to send a very clear message to the City of Long Beach-it is not okay to continue to subject black employees to unfair and oppressive working conditions. The City and its leadership continue to show a reckless disregard for our humanity by subjecting us to less than BASIC professional standards of business practices: inclusiveness, fairness, equity and supportive leadership. The City has also failed in providing oversight to supervisors and managers who continue to impact our daily work lives negatively. This lawsuit is a collective effort to address the systemic racism in the City. The City MUST be held accountable for allowing mistreatment of Black employees-for far too long. Today, City Leaders, our message is simple…It IS Not OKAY!”

Eric Bailey: “My name is Eric and I recently retired in February after 35+ years. I supervised Street Sweepers, but the City didn’t want to pay me as a Street Sweeping Supervisor, so they paid me less as a Refuse Supervisor. My non-Black predecessor had the proper title and pay. And another one of my non-Black peers was promoted before me on two occasions. Street sweeping employees are 50% Black, but only 1 out of 7 members of the management team is Black. This is wrong and has to stop.”

Solidarity and Community Support

Members of the Black Employees Alliance are saddened to hear that the Black employees of Long Beach are experiencing anti-Black racism similarly to the experiences of Black employees at the City and County of San Francisco. We want to affirm your efforts and make it clear that you have our full support in taking actions to resolve these matters. We stand by you! In solidarity for empowerment, liberation, and justice!

-City and County of San Francisco Black Employees Alliance

MEDIA COVERAGE

LA Times: Black city workers accuse Long Beach of racial discrimination in lawsuit

“Black city employees have been meeting behind the scenes for years, literally years, and discussing this hostile work environment, pay discrimination [and] promotion discrimination among themselves, trying desperately to find a way to get ahead of this,” said Shauna Madison, one of the group’s attorneys. “Finally, this all has come to light.”

KLTA5: In lawsuit, Black city employees accuse Long Beach of racial discrimination

One man was accused of stealing batteries. Another served as the only Black manager among seven departmental managers. One woman stayed in the same unclassified position, at risk of losing her job at any moment, for 19 years. One was told she was part of her department’s “problem children.” And another saw her raise revoked because of an alleged mistake in salary calculations.

REACHING OUT TO MEDINA ORTHWEIN ABOUT THE LAWSUIT

If you are a current or former Black City employee, and you believe you have been discriminated against because of your race, please respond to the questions below if you would like to get in touch with counsel. You can also access the form here. Please note that this form is a legal inquiry, and by responding to this form we are not undertaking legal representation.

Learn more:

Complaint

Press release

Photo and video credits: Jamie West-Blackwell and Bobby Adams Jr.