The federal government filed a lawsuit Thursday against ExxonMobile alleging a Black worker was subjected to racial hostility over several years when five nooses were found at a company complex in Louisiana.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, alleges in the suit that the employee, Milferd McGhee, who has worked at the Baton Rouge chemical plant since 2010, had his civil rights violated when five nooses were discovered at the complex between April 2016 and December 2020.
ExxonMobile’s failure to implement measures to stop the workplace harassment, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and “subjected Mr. McGhee to a hostile work environment on the basis of race,” the lawsuit said.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.
An ExxonMobile spokesperson responded to the lawsuit in a statement Friday.
“We disagree with the EEOC’s findings and allegations,” the statement said. “We encourage employees to report claims like this, and we thoroughly investigated. The symbols of hate are unacceptable, offensive, and in violation of our corporate policies. We have a zero tolerance policy of any form of harassment or discrimination in the workplace by or towards employees, contractors, suppliers or customers.”
McGhee found a noose in January 2020 and reported it to his supervisor, the lawsuit said. At the time, McGhee was aware of other nooses found at the complex.
ExxonMobile was aware of three other nooses discovered at the complex that also included an oil refinery, according to the suit.
A fifth noose was found at the complex in December 2020, nearly a year after McGhee went to his supervisor about the noose he found, according to the lawsuit.
McGhee could not be immediately reached for comment Friday.
In a statement about the racial discrimination lawsuit, the EEOC said ExxonMobile had a legal obligation to take prompt action aimed at stopping the historically threatening symbols.
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