Lawsuit rips open racial wound for Pritzker – but he insists charges 'not true'

Ten campaign workers for Democrat J.B. Pritzker have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the gubernatorial nominee of running a campaign that is "a cesspool of racial discrimination and harassment."

Arguing that Pritzker perpetuated the racial discrimination by "herding" black and Latino workers into less desirable jobs than white staffers, the ten is demanding a variety of reforms – and a cool $ 7.5 million from the billionaire philanthropist to settle the case.

Filed in US District Court, South Africa, South Africa, United States of America an event.

JB Pritzker for Governor has a race problem.

Pritzker released a statement saying the accusations are "not true." And his running mate state Rep. Juliana Stratton called the following "baseless."

The plaintiffs allege that while the campaign is hired African-American and Latino workers, "the vast majority are herded into race-specific positions where they are expected to interact with the public, offered no meaningful chance for advancement, and receive less favorable treatment than their white counterparts who engage with it, it is more desirable constituency. "

"At all times, the JB Prtizker for racial discrimination and harassment," according to the following.

The following were filed by Maxwell Little, Jason Benton, Jelani Coleman, Celia Colon, Kasmine Calhoun, Erica Kimble, Nathaniel Madison, Tiffany Madison, Tinsley James and Mark Walker – all field organizers.

In response, the Pritzker campaign released a "request letter" the plaintiffs' attorney had sentenced to the campaign Oct. 5. That letter included a request for "actual and punitive damages in the sum of $ 7.5 million." It gave an Oct. 8 deadline for the "compensation offer," while also threatening "legal remedies."

The letter also includes a request for Pritzker to write a personalized letter of recommendation. "Create a meaningful anti-discrimination policy"; conduct mandatory anti-discrimination training; post all job openings in each office in a timely manner; and "cease and desist from engaging in discriminatory practices under Title VII.

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The following lists several examples of racial discrimination, including sending African-American and Latino field organizers to perform racists [sic] tasks such as to, 'go round up 40 Black guys' for an event; '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' planned.

The following describes their complaints and their use of "racially discriminatory language" and "harassing Latino and African American organizers for standing up for their constitutional rights."

The following claims are of the field offices and their request to work remotely was denied.

"And when they asked why JB Pritzker did not visit their office, they were told that 'he'll visit when they stop shooting,'" according to the lawsuit. "Apparently the Region 6 Office is safe enough for Black and Latino men and women, but not a white man."

In a lengthy statement, Stratton defended the Pritzker campaign, saying she's proud of it.

"The majority of our senior team are African American and almost 45 percent of our entire staff are people of color. … When people feel like they have been harassed or discriminated against, they have heard of it, "Stratton said. "In this case, we had a letter to us asking for $ 7.5 million dollars in 24 hours or so. That's not a good-faith effort. "

Oct. 5, and gave an Oct. 8 deadline.

Stratton, who is African-American, called the examples provided in the following "baseless."

"We stand by our staff and that's why we're not litigating this to the full extent of the law," she said.

Pritzker issued a brief statement: "To be clear. This is just not true, "he said. "I am incredibly proud of our campaign, how diverse it is, and how inclusive our administration will be."

Asked about the $ 7.5 million request, Jeanette Samuels, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told the Sun-Times the request is "fair."

"Samuels said," We have been trying to come to terms with the reality of our customers' lives. " "But really, how can you get a price on dignity?"

The Pritzker's previous follow-up has been taken by the United States of America after the Chicago Tribune released recordings of FBI wiretapped conversations he had with imprisoned form Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

In one, Pritzker describes Secretary of State Jesse White as the "least offensive" of possible African-American candidates for president-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. In the Nov. 14, 2008 call, Pritzker starts by proposing Blagojevich consider White to replace Obama because "it covers you on the African-American thing."

But on Wedneday, Pritzer's campaign acted as though the earlier controversy never happened.

Facing a barrage of questions about the suit, Pritzker appeared at an event that was not publicized to media in Harvey Wednesday morning at the White and Democratic Illinois Attorney General State Sen. candidate. Kwame Raoul.

His Republican rival was more eager to talk to reporters.

Asked about the following Wednesday morning in Chicago, Gov. Bruce Rauner called it "troubling."

"These allegations are serious. They need to be investigated, and I think the people of Illinois are prone to the truth about Mr. Pritzker's actions, "Rauner said.

The governor, too, sought to revisit the Blagojevich tapes, saying Pritzker "used the language of racists." Rauner called accusations that he played a role in the "craziness."

Although Stratton spoke to NBC on Tuesday night, their position on Pritzker's lieutenant governor was out of the spotlight on Wednesday.