Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination at General Mills Plant in Georgia
Source: The DairyNews
A lawsuit has been filed against General Mills by eight Black employees, alleging decades of racial discrimination at the company's Covington, Georgia plant. The legal action, initiated in a federal court on June 2, accuses the plant’s management of creating and maintaining a racially hostile work environment.
The 58-page document details accusations against managers at the facility, including claims that they hold Black employees to higher standards than their white counterparts, overlook them for promotions, and subject them to disproportionate disciplinary actions. The suit further alleges that Black workers are deliberately placed in situations designed to result in punitive measures.
Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses managers of favoring white employees for promotions and threatening Black employees with demotions and pay cuts using fabricated evidence. It also claims that an internal clique within the facility, referred to as the “Good Ole Boys,” has empowered racist co-workers to harass and mistreat Black employees.
Disturbingly, the lawsuit cites the use of Confederate and Ku Klux Klan imagery by managers to intimidate Black workers and discourage them fr om voicing their grievances. One specific example provided in the lawsuit is a picture depicting Stone Mountain, referred to as a “Confederate Mural,” allegedly used to create a threatening environment.
Plaintiff Keith McClinton detailed a history of complaints about discriminatory practices, which he claims have been largely ignored by the company's HR department. According to McClinton, he was even instructed by HR in 2024 to cease submitting his complaints in writing. Additionally, he recounted an incident from 2006 wh ere he found "KKK" written across his lunchbox and was subsequently required to provide a handwriting sample to prove he did not write it himself.
The lawsuit accuses the discriminatory practices at the General Mills plant of causing irreparable damage to the career trajectories of Black employees, asserting that entire careers have been hampered by the racially biased actions of the “Good Ole Boys.”
While General Mills has not commented on the ongoing litigation, the company’s website states that it prohibits discrimination and holds diversity as a core part of its business strategy.
The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial along with compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life suffered by hundreds of Black employees over the years.
Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses managers of favoring white employees for promotions and threatening Black employees with demotions and pay cuts using fabricated evidence. It also claims that an internal clique within the facility, referred to as the “Good Ole Boys,” has empowered racist co-workers to harass and mistreat Black employees.
Disturbingly, the lawsuit cites the use of Confederate and Ku Klux Klan imagery by managers to intimidate Black workers and discourage them fr om voicing their grievances. One specific example provided in the lawsuit is a picture depicting Stone Mountain, referred to as a “Confederate Mural,” allegedly used to create a threatening environment.
Plaintiff Keith McClinton detailed a history of complaints about discriminatory practices, which he claims have been largely ignored by the company's HR department. According to McClinton, he was even instructed by HR in 2024 to cease submitting his complaints in writing. Additionally, he recounted an incident from 2006 wh ere he found "KKK" written across his lunchbox and was subsequently required to provide a handwriting sample to prove he did not write it himself.
The lawsuit accuses the discriminatory practices at the General Mills plant of causing irreparable damage to the career trajectories of Black employees, asserting that entire careers have been hampered by the racially biased actions of the “Good Ole Boys.”
While General Mills has not commented on the ongoing litigation, the company’s website states that it prohibits discrimination and holds diversity as a core part of its business strategy.
The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial along with compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life suffered by hundreds of Black employees over the years.
