A Hostile Work Environment in a White Supremacy System: Jury Finds LAPD Racist. Black Cop Awarded $1.2 Million

(The Dorner Rule: Expect racism from white people everyday. If they are not racist to you then be pleasantly surprised. Having such an expectation will enable you to have an intelligent reaction to racism (play defense) and to constructively solve problems (end racism - survival without justice is meaningless).  This reaction is not shock, outrage, crying, begging, or violent. Such reactions cause stress, anger, misery, strokes, incarceration, or death)

From [HERE] and [HERE] A black Los Angeles police officer was awarded $1.2 million by a jury Tuesday for his racial discrimination and harassment lawsuit against the city and department. The jury deliberated less than a day. Officer Earl Wright, a 23-year veteran on the force, said the department didn't take complaints seriously that dated back to 2009, which caused him to be hospitalized and miss seven months of work because of humiliation, degradation, stress, anxiety and elevated blood pressure. 

A Hostile Evironment in a White Supremacy System:  In photo, racist suspects, Sgt. Peter Foster pretends to use his phone (right) as he is being shielded by LA City Attorney Daniel Aguilera, who defended the City against claims of racsim in the LAPD. Foster was Wright's immediate supervisor and was in charge of the Community Relations Office. Aguilera said the city was very disappointed with the verdict and was examining options to challenge it. The City defended the allegations by arguing that police were only joking with Wright. Perhaps the conduct would be funny - if the operating system of white supremacy did not exist. 

The jury found the LAPD to be racist as a factual matter based on some of the following uncontested facts: 

* Wright approached Foster to request permission to leave work early. Foster, in a very rude and demeaning manner responded, "Why, you gotta go pick watermelons."  

* In November 2009, Sgt. Peter Foster called Wright back from the field to present him with a cake for his 20-year anniversary with the department. The cake was topped with a fried chicken leg and a slice of watermelon.

* In September 2009, photos of Wright and his partner's faces were superimposed on a "Sanford and Son" poster that was plastered around the department and called a family portrait. Specifically, Officer Clinton Pophani also posted the same poster in the records room, locker room, men's bathroom, reporting, writing room and throughout Central Station.  

* On or about October, 2009, a color poster containing two 8 x 11 size pictures of Plaintiff was posted all over Central Station including the locker rooms, watch commander's office, records and reporting room, roll call room and the workout room. Under the pictures were the words "I need your help. I don't know who I want to be for Halloween. Ice Cube from the 90's or Dwayne from What's Happening." The pictures were eventually taken down by Sgt. James T. Willis, after being posted all over the station for several days and viewed by officers, command staff and citizens of Los Angeles.

A text message of a black duckling sent by LAPD supervisors to Wright. (In the absence of white supremacy, niggers would not exist. [MORE])

* On or about October, 2009, Officer Matthew Shaffer, under Foster's direction, downloaded four color pictures of Plaintiff from Plaintiffs facebook account and posted the pictures all over Central Station. Under the first picture was written the words "before yak" - referencing "cognac.  Under the second picture was written "The Lost Jackson" referring to Michael Jackson. Under the third picture was written "Soul Glow." Under the fourth picture was written "keepin it Gangster after a Bottle of Yak." The poster also said "Sup Fool, Lost Member, NWA." The pictures were posted near Wrights desk for everyone to view, including command staff, for approximately 2 months.

* On or about August 29,2010, Wright attended a carnival that was organized by the Senior Lead Officers. At the carnival, Chamberlain stated to Wright that he did not think that a complaint should have been filed against Foster. Chamberlain warned him that he would not be treated well when he returned back to the station because of the complaint he made against Foster. Chamberlain's demeanor was such as to intimidate Wright and make him fearful of further harassment and possible retaliation. [more: PDF of complaint]