10 Pritzker staffers file racial discrimination lawsuit

CHICAGO (WICS/WRSP) — JB Pritzker for Governor campaign is facing a lawsuit from several staffers over alleged racial discrimination.

10 staffers on the JB Pritzker for Governor campaign say it has a race problem and "has been cesspool of racial discrimination and harassment".

The staffers claim the campaign does hire African Americans and Latinos as campaign workers, but does not offer them meaningful chance for advancement and claim they receive less favorable treatment than their white counterparts.

"As a result, Black and Latino workers at JB Pritzker for Governor are marginalized, with their efforts put under a microscope and micromanaged while their white counterparts are given autonomy and concessions. As if the intentional herding of Black and Latino workers into specific areas were not bad enough, the few workers of color who were placed in majority white working environments were likewise subjected to overt and invidious racial discrimination."

The following statement on the lawsuit was issued by Juliana Stratton, candidate for Lt. Gov.

"I am very proud of the campaign that JB and I have put together. The majority of our senior team are African American and almost 45% of our entire staff are people of color. When people feel like they have been harassed or discriminated against, they have the right to come forward and have their voices heard. In this case, we had a letter delivered to us asking for $7.5 million dollars in 24 hours or they threatened legal action and to go to press. That’s not a good faith effort.

The incidents listed in this complaint are baseless and make offensive claims in regard to several members of our staff. We stand by our staff and that’s why we are not afraid to litigate this to the fullest extent of the law. I couldn’t be prouder to be on the ticket with JB and of the statewide, grassroots campaign we’ve built.”

JB Pritzker released the following statement on the lawsuit:

“To be clear, this is just not true. I am incredibly proud of our campaign, how diverse it is, and how inclusive our administration will be.”

Demand letter sent to the campaign on Friday, October 5th, which only allowed the campaign one business day (24 hours) to respond and includes demands for a “personalized letter of recommendation” and compensation in the sum of “$7.5 million.”

Statement from Illinois Republican Party on Racial Discrimination, Harassment Lawsuit Against Pritzker Campaign:

Ten African-American and Latino employees of the Pritzker campaign have filed a lawsuit against JB Pritzker for Governor accusing the campaign of discrimination and harassment. Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Travis Sterling issued the following in response:

"The lawsuit filed against JB Pritzker's campaign is simply the latest in a long line of incidents that prove that when it comes to the African-American community, Pritzker's actions don't back up his words. Here, we have his own staffers -- seasoned political operatives -- alleging racial discrimination and harassment. We have heard from Pritzker's own mouth referring to Black elected officials as "offensive" on an FBI wiretap with Rod Blagojevich. It's finally time for JB Pritzker to answer for his actions." - Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Travis Sterling

Following a lawsuit alleging discrimination and harassment by the Pritzker campaign, Governor Rauner made the following statement while speaking to the press:

"I think it's troubling, these allegations are serious. They need to be investigated. I think the people of Illinois deserve to know the truth about Pritzker's actions.

"...Unfortunately, this seems to be a pattern with Mr. Pritzker. I don’t think anyone should be surprised, as you all know, he was caught on the FBI wiretaps, on the phone with Blagojevich. He was trying use his inheritance to buy elected office. He used the language of racists in that phonecall. He was on tape using the language of racists. And he very specifically called African-American elected officials 'offensive.' So I am not sure that anybody should be surprised that his campaign may have engaged in discriminatory practices."

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