African American employees claim race discrimination and discriminatory employment practices in lawsuit against Anne Arundel County Public Library
Anne Arundel County, MD (BlackNews.com) — Anne Arundel County Public Library (“AACPL”) employees, Larry Randal, (custodian), Ronald Smith and Cyrus Scott, (drivers) have sued AACPL for discriminating against them in the terms, conditions and benefits of their employment because of their race and color as African Americans and engaging in employment practices that give preference to white employees over black employees. The cases were filed in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and assigned Civil Case Numbers C-11-163402 and 02-C-12-167831.
In the case of Mr. Randall, the complainant alleges that on or about March 29, 2010 AACPL issued a memo to library employees about the opening of a position titled, Maintenance Mechanic I. Mr. Randall, who had been a custodian with AACPL since 2002, applied for the position. However, Mr. Randall was not given the usual interview. Mr. Randall was told by the white HR director that the position would be announced to the public because only two library employees applied. The position was subsequently announced to the general public, and a white custodian from Anne Arundel County Public Schools was given the position. The white custodian is substantially less qualified and less experienced than Mr. Randall and the other applicants. However, AACPL used an all white interview panel, with at least one panelist who was friendly with the white custodian, to conduct and subjectively score the interviews. Mr. Randall was told that the white custodian scored higher on the interviews. Mr. Randall recalls how devastated he and his 14 year old daughter were when she inquired, and he had to tell her that he was denied the promotion because of his race and color as a black man.
In the case of Messers Smith and Scott, the complaint alleges that over the years AACPL had three drivers serving its 15 branches. Then in 2010 one of the driver positions opened. Then AACPL upgraded the driver position to a maintenance mechanic I, position with a premeditated plan to employ the white custodian who was hired for the position. The decision was made with the intention to elevate the white custodian above Smith and Scott as black drivers, gave him better pay than Plaintiffs, and increased the job duties and responsibilities for the 15 branches between Smith and Scott as the two black drivers. Smith and Scott also allege that AACPL policies and practices pertaining to training, leave, performance evaluation, etc, are implemented in a way that is more favorable to white employees than blacks.
Commenting about these allegations, Messers Randall, Smith and Scott’s, attorney, George A. Rose, says, “It appears that the ruling class in Anne Arundel County, are keen to perpetuating the legacy and effect of its colorful slave history, through it’s various county institutions and structures. However in this age of the ‘rule of law’, AACPL’s actions can be measured against Federal and state law prohibiting race discrimination in employment, and slave descendants who are employed at AACPL, have recourse to justice through an independent judiciary.”
In order to ensure that this AACPL is held accountable, they are asking that anyone with facts and information pertaining to these complaints call their office at 410-727-7555.
SOURCE: The Rose Law Firm, LLC, counsel to plaintiff Felicia Martin.
