By Corrections1 Staff
YORK, Pa.— A federal lawsuit claims racism is threatening at least two correction officers’ safety in a Pennsylvania prison.
Two COs at York County Prison claim out of the 500 prison workers, only 20 are African-American, which is a testament to a culture deemed discriminatory and unsafe, local news station CBS 21 reports.
Officers Iris Chambers and Lamar DeShields claim instances of discrimination by supervisors and colleagues with some referencing watermelon and fried chicken. Chambers also claims she was locked between two prison doors by a fellow officer preventing access to the building and that her personal information was given to inmates by officers.
“They are extremely scared,” said attorney Brian Mildenberg with Mildenberg Law Firm. “They are suffering from fear, anxiety, pretty much been terrorized by going to work.”
Mildenberg says the discrimination has gone on for years with the officers reaching out to supervisors, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the EEOC with no immediate help.
The lawsuit seeks to change the work environment and monetary damages.