Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield aldermen Tuesday will decide whether to declare “zero tolerance” on racial slurs in the workplace. This comes as a public works employee was suspended for using the N-word. The suspension was part of union-negotiated progressive discipline.
Two of the city’s three Black aldermen had something to say about it last week.
“Don’t sign onto it if you are going to continue to treat people of color as they mean nothing, as their voices mean nothing,” Ald. Shawn Gregory told his colleagues. “You might as well call them that. That’s my take on it. I’m not about pandering to anybody about anything, but if we are going to be against racism, if we are going to be against racial slurs, then let’s be serious about it.”
“This really hit near and dear to my heart and hit home for me,” said Ald. Lakeisha Purchase. “I have had a lot of calls phone calls from members in our public works department, saying thank you for recognizing this.”
