NEW YORK—Community organizations are putting the pressure on the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx to respond to long-standing claims of discrimination against African American and Latino workers.
Minority employees at Woodlawn say that a foreman at the cemetery uses racist epithets, and when workers complain, they are punished, sometimes by being sent to dig graves in the hot sun. They also allege that all skilled jobs at the cemetery are given to whites, and that there are no minority employees in supervisory positions.
Several community groups and Councilman Charles Barron of the 42nd District rallied outside the closed gates of the cemetery Friday.
Rally organizer Ramon Jimenez, with the South Bronx Congress, estimated that over 100 people came to support the cause.
“It’s a secret buried deep in Woodlawn Cemetery,” Jimenez said.
Workers began to complain of mistreatment several years ago, but their claims were not taken seriously until just a few months ago.
The community groups want the cemetery to dismiss discriminating supervisors, implement affirmative action and have mandatory racial sensitivity classes for employees, according to Jimenez.
Rev. Lydia Lebron-Rivera, pastor at La Resurreccion United Methodist Church, became involved when members of her congregation complained of intimidation at the cemetery. She said that the letters of concern the workers wrote went unanswered.
“As people of faith, it is a moral imperative that we denounce injustice and that we advocate and fight for the rights and the dignity and respect of all human beings,” Rivera said.
Since the issue has been brought up, Woodlawn has hired an attorney to investigate and write an independent review. The review has not been completed at this time.
The cemetery had no further comment.
The office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who was attending a function at Woodlawn on Monday, said they would not comment until they have looked into the matter further.
Woodlawn Cemetery is the resting place of a multi-ethnic crowd, including diplomat Ralph Bunche and jazz musicians Duke Ellington and Miles Davis.
Minority employees at Woodlawn say that a foreman at the cemetery uses racist epithets, and when workers complain, they are punished, sometimes by being sent to dig graves in the hot sun. They also allege that all skilled jobs at the cemetery are given to whites, and that there are no minority employees in supervisory positions.
Several community groups and Councilman Charles Barron of the 42nd District rallied outside the closed gates of the cemetery Friday.
Rally organizer Ramon Jimenez, with the South Bronx Congress, estimated that over 100 people came to support the cause.
“It’s a secret buried deep in Woodlawn Cemetery,” Jimenez said.
Workers began to complain of mistreatment several years ago, but their claims were not taken seriously until just a few months ago.
The community groups want the cemetery to dismiss discriminating supervisors, implement affirmative action and have mandatory racial sensitivity classes for employees, according to Jimenez.
Rev. Lydia Lebron-Rivera, pastor at La Resurreccion United Methodist Church, became involved when members of her congregation complained of intimidation at the cemetery. She said that the letters of concern the workers wrote went unanswered.
“As people of faith, it is a moral imperative that we denounce injustice and that we advocate and fight for the rights and the dignity and respect of all human beings,” Rivera said.
Since the issue has been brought up, Woodlawn has hired an attorney to investigate and write an independent review. The review has not been completed at this time.
The cemetery had no further comment.
The office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who was attending a function at Woodlawn on Monday, said they would not comment until they have looked into the matter further.
Woodlawn Cemetery is the resting place of a multi-ethnic crowd, including diplomat Ralph Bunche and jazz musicians Duke Ellington and Miles Davis.