Black Employee Reports Supervisor Shouted White Power And Threatened His Life At Suffolk County Department of Public Works

A Black and Latino man, Julio Germain, alleges he faced years of racial slurs and hostility from colleagues while employed at the Suffolk County Department of Public Works in Long Island, New York. His lawsuit, submitted on September 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, asserts that he was physically assaulted by a supervisor and systematically denied promotions due to discrimination.Germain began his tenure as an auto equipment operator in November 2019. By early 2022, he reported a toxic work atmosphere. The lawsuit details incidents involving racially charged comments from his supervisors and co-workers, including startling instances of physical aggression.Despite frequent complaints to management, Germain's pleas for assistance were ignored, and he continued to experience isolation and discriminatory practices. He filed a formal complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights in December 2023 and has since sought legal redress for the emotional distress and losses sustained. Germain requests a jury trial for damages and systemic changes within the county. (Photos: PIX11 video screenshots, Suffolk County Department of Public Works website)