Group to urge VA secretary to review claims of racial discrimination at KC hospital
A group in support of employees at the Kansas City Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center who have alleged racial discrimination plan to hand deliver a letter to the secretary of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs when he visits the hospital Wednesday afternoon.
Following Monday morning protests and calls for change at the medical center, the group planned to hand the letter to Secretary Robert Wilkie. The employees want a “serious, total, independent review,” of the agency, according to a news release issued Wednesday by an attorney representing some of those involved.
Attorney Rebecca Randles said in the release that “mean-spirited epithets” have been used, including the n-word, monkeys and Aunt Jemima. Randles said the mistreatment also takes multiple forms, including Black employees being passed over for promotions.
The medical center is also facing at least two lawsuits.
“We hope he’ll work with sensitivity, empathy and integrity to create a safe environment for African Americans,” the Rev. Rodney Williams, president of the Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, said in a news release.
A statement previously issued by a VA spokesman in response to another race discrimination lawsuit filed in February said the center doesn’t “tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind,” and is “proud of its diverse and inclusive culture.”
Last month, Charmayne “Charlie” Brown spoke at a press conference and alleged she had been racially discriminated against during her 17 years at the Kansas City VA.
Brown said she wanted to speak out so others don’t have to experience what she went through.
She is part of a group of about 50 Black current and former employees who have experienced racial discrimination at the Kansas City VA and are making a stand. Over the last three months, other employees have told The Star their stories, several asking that their names not be used for fear of retaliation. But they all described one thing: systemic discrimination against Black employees.
One woman said that some staff members would start to make monkey noises when they would see a Black employee.
Another woman ultimately resigned after going to work caused her to experience chest pains, nausea and vomiting.
“Now I’m watching my children go through what I went through and what my grandma went through,” Brown said at the press conference. “The humiliation, the name calling, the degrading things that have been done to us — enough is enough.”
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 1:50 PM.
