HATE DOESN'T TAKE HOLIDAYS

Hate doesn't sleep - and it NEVER takes a holiday. While we have been enjoying the summer and the sun - there are those pathetically insecure individuals whose only source of pleasure is attempting to intimidate others to make themselves feel important. What a sorry way to have to spend your time.

TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Cape Girardeau County, MO
Employees Claim Nooses Hung at Work

Posted: Aug 11, 2008 05:14 PM CDT

Updated: Aug 12, 2008 06:09 PM CDT




Employees Claim Nooses Hung at Work
By: CJ Cassidy

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, Mo. - Hate crime allegations at a major southeast Missouri plant force some workers to take action.

Several current and former employees at Proctor and Gamble all make the same shocking claim that someone hung nooses where they would see them.

And it didn't just happen once, they say it happened several times over the course of two years.

They've filed discrimination complaints with the Missouri Human Rights Commission to start with.

None of those employees felt comfortable speaking on camera, but I did speak to their doctor, and to company leaders who are taking these claims seriously.

Cell phone images show nooses hanging on a locker, on a paint machine, and in some cases black employees say they found them on desks.

The workers tell me they took these pictures as proof of what's gone on at Procter and Gamble for the past two years.

"I've gotten each individuals permission to talk about it, and provide documentation so this information does get out to the media," said Cape Girardeau Physician Byron Glenn. He explains he helped treat some of those black employees for stress.

"They were having problems ranging from not being able to sleep, fear of going to work, fear of their lives being threatened. One patient had to get a permit for a concealed weapon because he felt his life was being threatened," he said.

Employees tell me seeing the nooses sent them into shock.

According to complaints filed with the Missouri Human Rights Commission, some workers claim "...management criticized us stating "you came to get me for this?"

"I'm very upset about this. We don't tolerate this. We will figure out who it is and take appropriate action," Regina Gray said. She is one of the managers at the Cape Girardeau plant.

She says the company hired a private investigator to get to the bottom of the problem, and help employees feel safe, at work and at home.

"We have talked with the FBI and we have offered to have them involved work with us in this investigation. They have declined our offer to help with this. We're not aware of any ongoing investigation," she said.

FBI agents tell me they never declined any offers, and that the investigation is still going on.

Back at his office, Dr. Byron Glenn hopes investigators figure out who left the cruel symbols, so his patients can try to return to normal lives again.

"When you find this happening in a major company like P and G, it's very upsetting," he said.

The employees in question say they would like to continue to keep their jobs because they get paid so well by the company, but they also say they don't know if they will ever feel truly safe there again.

Proctor and Gamble employs about 1200 people at the Cape Girardeau plant, and has offices worldwide.