"Jim Crow-era" Racist Graffiti and Racial Discrimination Found at Tesla's Fremont Plant

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many believe Tesla, Inc. stands out as an innovative and groundbreaking company that is at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution. As a result, Owen Diaz, his son Demetric Di-az, and Lamar Patterson were thrilled when they landed work at Tesla's Fremont Factory through contract staffing agencies. These dreams turned into nightmares when each was subjected to racial epithets, racist graffiti, and a hostile work environment. Today they filed suit. This is the second suit brought by California Civil Rights Law Group in 2017 against Tesla for racial discrimination.

Instead of a modern workplace at Tesla, Plaintiffs encountered a scene straight from the Jim Crow era. Plaintiffs endured a culture seeped in the N-word, racial abuse and racist Pickaninny images drawn on boxes with no repercussions.

"What these three new cases bring to light is how Tesla's progressive image seems to be merely a façade papering over regressive, demeaning treatment of African-Americans ? both employees and contract employees. All three men were targets of on-going racially motivated abuse, including the frequent use of racial slurs and Jim Crow-era graffiti. The plaintiffs complained to their supervisors but Tesla, Inc. took no effective actions," said Attorney Larry Organ of the California Civil Rights Group.

Per Wikipedia, "Pickaninny is a racial slur which refers to a depiction of dark-skinned children of African descent. It is a racist and derogatory caricature, whose meaning and usage grew to fruition in the antebellum American south, where race-based slavery was legal."

The lawsuit was filed in Alameda County Superior Court. It alleges 16 civil rights and employment law violations as well as retaliatory and whistleblower violations. A copy of the filings, racist graffiti, and photographs of the plaintiffs can be accessed here. 

Attorney Larry Organ is available for comment. The plaintiffs have chosen to do no additional media interviews.  

About the Plaintiffs:

Demetric Di-az
In August 24, 2015, Di-az signed a contract to start working at Tesla as a production associate through the staffing agency West Valley Staffing Solutions. He took pride in his work and thought it was an honor to work for such a groundbreaking car company. But things began to change as he was finding it increasingly difficult to enjoy his job. He was called "n*****" by co-workers on a daily basis. He also observed his fellow African-Americans enduring the same treatment. Di-az found this demeaning and unbearably offensive. Though he made a complaint to West Valley Staffing Solutions, there was no response. He then complained to his superior at Tesla in December of 2015. His superiors' response was: "if you don't like it, your time here is going to end. You're just a temp anyway."  Shortly thereafter, Di-az was let go.

Owen Diaz
Owen is the father of Demetric. He took great pride in working at Tesla's Fremont Factory with his son. He was contracted to Tesla through Citistaff. Hired in 2015, Owen was a successful employee whose work ethic was recognized almost immediately after he began working for the company.

But he, too, suffered racial abuse. One day, while delivering lunch to his son, he had to endure watching racial epithets directed at his son - "All you f****** n****** ? I can't stand you M************." For him, this was one of the most painful and heart breaking experiences he's had. 

Owen and other African-American employees also found images of Pickaninny graffiti in the Factory. These crude drawings featured dark-skinned individuals with big lips and bones through their nose and the epithet "Boo" written underneath. 

Diaz eventually quit in 2016 because he could not take the harassment any longer.

Lamar Patterson
Patterson was excited to join Tesla as an elevator operator starting in January 2016. He was contracted to Tesla through Chartwell Staffing Solutions. It did not take him long to learn the company was a hotbed for racist behavior. Lamar experienced employees and supervisors using the N word, freely and frequently throughout the Tesla factory. They would use jokes, such as: "Go back to Africa, we don't want you here." Unable to take the abuse and the racially harassing treatment, Patterson quit in August of 2016.

About California Civil Rights Law Group

The California Civil Rights Law Group, led by prominent trial attorney Larry Organ, is dedicated to furthering the cause of employee civil rights throughout the state. The legal team has made it its priority to provide help to those who need it the most, and specializes in representing plaintiffs in matters involving race, sex and disability harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination.  http://www.civilrightsca.com/

SOURCE Larry Organ, California Civil Rights Law Group