EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: City Employee Files EEOC Complaint Due to Suspected Discrimination by Councilmen

March 8, 2011

Anniston, Alabama – A female city employee filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), claiming that she was disrespectfully questioned during a City Council hearing by the councilmen and the city attorney because of her gender and race.

The complaint filed by Anniston magistrate Rosemary Rice, dated February 18, states that during an inquiry about the alleged illicit and illegal activities at the City Hall August 30 of last year, the councilmen and attorney Cleophus Thomas’ line of questioning to Rice was disrespectful and hostile, and publicly ridiculed her qualifications, education, and experience.

She claims that only white female witnesses were subjected to the “embarrassing and defamatory treatment.” The hearing also discussed the investigation on the reported death threats against Councilmen Ben Little that were reported on a newspaper more than a year before.

The councilmen and Thomas allegedly asked Rice how she concluded that no crime was committed in Little’s case and repeatedly asked if she would change her opinion if the circumstances were different, for instance if the clippings had her name on it instead of Little’s. Rice was subpoenaed to the hearing because the case’s investigator consulted her about a warrant. A police report dated March 27, 2009 stated that Rice said no crime happened, so no warrant could be issued.

Little commented that the complaint is absurd and that records and tapes can prove how they questioned Rice. He added that the council has the right to question her because it was investigating problems in the municipal court and the Police Department. Mayor Gene Robinson, meanwhile, was not surprised by the complaint. The mayor Robinson boycotted the hearings and has predicted that the inquiry would “drive up the city’s legal bills.”

The city has to provide a statement regarding the complaint and any evidence supporting it to the commission by March 24. If the city responds by Thursday, parties have the option to mediate the complaint to avoid extensive investigation. EEOC will investigate the complaint and will send a right-to-sue letter to Rice if the agency finds the complaint valid.