Five Black Winston-Salem firefighters have filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Winston-Salem and fire Chief William "Trey" Mayo alleging racial discrimination in hiring, promotion, discipline, harassment and retaliation.
The firefighters are all members of the Omnibus group, which has called for the firing of Mayo and some other white fire employees since last summer.
Three of the firefighters filing suit currently work in the department and two are former employees. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday, Feb. 11, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Citing what it calls "decades-long history of discrimination, harassment, intimidation and retaliation" against Black employees, the lawsuit claims that Blacks are discouraged from applying for positions, more rigorously, tested, belittled and demeaned at fire stations and targeted, ostracized or transferred if they complain.