Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Racism and Racist Images at City Hall in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER SELWYN PIETERS WAS THREATENED WITH ARREST AT WINDSOR CITY HALL FOR REPORTING RACIST AND HOMOPHOBIC GRAPHIC IN THE PUBLIC BATHROOM AT WINDSOR CITY HALL

A Human Rights Tribunal convened to hear allegations of the pervasive use of the term “nigger” by employees of the Public Works Department of the City of Windsor. The hearing took place in Windsor in its City Hall location at 400 City Hall Square East.

Mr. Alan Shreve, a City of Windsor employee and long time resident of Windsor complained of several incidents in which the offensive slur “Nigger” was used to refer to Black people. He also complained about a KKK incident that occurred during an anti-discrimination training session. Further, he complained of a further incident of racism that occurred a few months after the training session. He is supported by other racial minority employees who also witnessed similar incidents.

The only accessible bathroom to lawyer Selwyn Pieters was on the first floor of City Hall and it was riddled with racist and homophobic remarks and a Nazi sign. Pieters reported the incident to a City Hall reception employee, who refused to get a supervisor or manger for him and then called the police to arrest him for taking pictures. This is a public place that permits and promotes a poisoned atmosphere for Black people. For the City employee to refuse to call her manager and instead call the police reinforces that chilly atmosphere that exist for Black people in the City of Windsor. How could this be acceptable to any citizen?

 

Photographs and a video recording exist of what was observed in the bathroom and part of the conduct of the City Employee in the foyer of City Hall Windsor.




CBC Television: City of Windsor racist, alleges lawyer, October 20, 2011


Windsor Star: City of Windsor staffer alleges workplace racial slurs, October 18, 2011

The hearing continues on December 14, 15, and 16, 2011 in Windsor, Ontario.