* Chris Marquette at Roll Call…
Patrice Campbell, a Black staffer for Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois, is suing Schneider’s office, alleging that her supervisor, Karyn Davidman, made lynching references directed at her, among other hostile work environment and retaliation allegations in a lawsuit filed Thursday.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that Davidman created a hostile work environment aimed at Campbell because of her race and that the office did not properly discipline Davidman after being made aware of those actions.
On a March 3 phone call, Davidman, who is white, allegedly was relaying a story to Campbell about lanyards that secure face masks to protect against COVID-19. At one point, Davidman told Campbell, “Patrice — you are going to have to get a rope and put it around your neck!”
The complaint says Campbell was “taken aback by Davidman’s obvious reference to lynching” and told Davidman her words were inappropriate and inflammatory.
In addition to the hostile work environment allegation, Campbell also alleges that she was retaliated against for reporting Davidman’s behavior and subsequently was assigned a smaller work portfolio.
There’s more, so go read the rest.
- 14th ward - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 8:26 am:
Not good if the story is verified, Staff shake-up is in order. I don’t see more being done.
- Anon1 - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 8:28 am:
It appears Davidman is aptly named - Karyn
- Lake Effect - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 9:20 am:
when you hire woke staff you are asking for trouble- if this is the meat of the lawsuit it’s ridiculous
- Joliet gram - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 9:25 am:
and Ms.Davidman was given a week off with pay. Hardly seems like ‘punishment’ or a reprimand by Schneider. Local media did not cover this story.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 9:26 am:
===hire woke staff===
What makes them woke here.
Hmm.
===you are asking for trouble===
Saying the quiet part out loud, are we?
- Amalia - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 9:46 am:
yes, more media digging needed. who knew what, when did they know it, what did they do? A member of Congress does not have a huge staff. I could have told you this was a racist comment back in the 1960s, enough of the it’s about woke people. google Davidman and find her photo next to the Cong. Not a good look for him. what did he do about this?
- Middle Way - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 9:59 am:
Of any of the suburban Congressional Dems, I still see Schneider as one of the most vulnerable if you get a Dold-style candidate who focuses on economic issues in the district instead of wedge social issues. This is the type of seat that should be competitive, but points out the Republicans huge failing in the Trump era of recruiting sane, policy-focused centrist candidates that suburbanites and even “weak” (referring to party affiliation here not anything else) Dems can potentially embrace. Where are the new Dolds?
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 10:07 am:
“when you hire woke staff you are asking for trouble”
Yeah, I know. Expecting to be treated dignity. What a bunch of losers. /s
- Rabid - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 10:13 am:
Week off with pay is called vacation
- Jocko - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 10:28 am:
Call me skeptical, but who says ‘rope’ when talking about the elastic that holds a facemask in place? Does she have witnesses to the Zoom call when Karyn made the remark?
- @misterjayem - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 10:41 am:
“I could have told you this was a racist comment back in the 1960s, enough of the it’s about woke people.”
Yep.
– MrJM
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 11:27 am:
===when you hire woke staff===
I just *love* how people are using that word to cover their racism.
According to the lawsuit, Davidman made this same lynching reference multiple times. And for reporting it, the staffer ended up effectively being punished while Davidman got a nice paid vacation.
So, yeah, sure. It’s the “woke” staffer’s fault. Right.
Go crawl back under your rock.
- The Dude Abides - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 11:52 am:
After reading the link to the rest of the article it seems that Campbell’s complaint wasn’t taken very seriously. Schneider’s staff did not take the appropriate action.. Now they have a bigger problem.
- Shield - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 11:53 am:
Politico pointed out that congressional rules also require a paper trail for anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training, which all staff is supposed to take and sign acknowledgments of in writing, and said it was unclear if Schneider’s office was following that requirement.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/15/black-staffer-discrimination-lawsuit-brad-schneider-office-499769
- Woke Press Corp - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 12:26 pm:
Rich, at least you make it clear your absolute bias and idiocy as one of the woke cult press members. If you weren’t easily bought off (paying for ads on your site) for good coverage, you’d be out of business. But alas, the machine churns on.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 12:48 pm:
The opposite of “woke” is purposely asleep… with eyes wide shut?
Awakening from a nightmare is always difficult for those who thought it was a nice dream?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 1:19 pm:
===(paying for ads on your site) for good coverage===
https://capitolfax.com/2021/07/15/prairie-state-energy-ad-criticized/
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 1:19 pm:
===as one of the woke cult press members===
Another racist heard from.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 1:23 pm:
Why are racists defending Brad Schneider? Do they think he’s a republican?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 1:35 pm:
===Why are racists defending Brad Schneider?===
Racists gonna racist.
- Matty - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 2:15 pm:
As someone who has known and worked with Davidman in varying capacities over the years, this is not at all a surprise. I have always found that anyone hiring her has very poor judgement. She is a toxic person down to her bone marrow.
- KSDinCU - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 2:47 pm:
After reading the full article, I’ve concluded that Davidman is a real grass bowl. The initial comment was bad enough, but the gleeful repetition and harassment in the subsequent meetings is awful. Assuming the details are all true–and there is no reason to think they are not–she should be out on her ear like yesterday.
- Deep Dish - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 3:38 pm:
===Why are racists defending Brad Schneider?===
Anyone who knows Rep Schneider can tell you he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. He genuinely cares about all human beings and would never tolerate a racially hostile environment. If the allegations against Davidman are true, there’s no way Brad knew about it.
Racists will defend Davidman even if it’s true. Schneider won’t.
- Amalia - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 3:55 pm:
Two things:
1)Matty’s comment is very troubling. There’s no way the Cong could not know she is a bad person if this description is in fact true. More media questions necessary to find who knew what when. I don’t think this story is over. And it could turn out very badly for Schneider.
2)WTH with the comments about Rich, $$$, and woke? actually WTA… but I can’t type that here. Completely ridiculous accusations. totally nuts. Racists gonna racist….right, Rich.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 16, 21 @ 4:02 pm:
I’m late to this, Rich handled it as always, nipping it in the bud, and allowing the racists expose themselves.
What that comment and commenter reminded me?
The racists feel not only empowered but entitled, and if you aren’t as dark and soulless as they, “you” are the enemy, press, people, all of it.
If these “folks” are going after Rich, then Rich is on the side of good, and I stand with all whom are fighting these “folks” too.