Posted on 08/03/2010 9:05:05 PM PDT by Libloather
Omar Thornton Claimed He Was Victim of Workplace Racism
By Paul Shepard on Aug 3rd 2010 6:05PM
It's too early to tell what led Omar S. Thornton to go to the beer distributor warehouse outside Hartford, Conn., where he worked and to gun down nine workers before turning the rifle on himself.
Initial reports from the labor union that represented Thornton, 34, which say that he was a "disciplinary problem," that he was racially harassed at work and supervisors did nothing to remedy the situation, shine a bright light on the potentially explosive situations in our modern workplaces.
Thornton had been disciplined earlier in the day for taking beer from his job, according to police sources. At a meeting with supervisors, he was given a choice of quitting or being fired. As he was being escorted from the building, Thornton secured a gun and began firing at co-workers, according to authorities.
The mother of a woman Thornton dated told reporters that he has long complained about racism at the plant and had pcitures of the word "nigger" and pictures of a noose taken from a bathroom stall at work.
Some rifles, such as a AK 47, can have a collapsible stock making it shorter. I have worked at plants where it would be easy to sneak a short rifle in. It could be under a coat or in a cardboard box. Once it is in a locker, no one could see it.
What? Ohhhhhhh...there oughta be a law.
This article says it was a handgun.
Gee...
Somebody is lying their a$$ off.
In a statement, the Teamsters 1035 said Thornton shot and killed Cirigliano, president of the local, who was there as
Thornton's union representative, and other people at the facility.
“All of these people were at work just trying to do their jobs,” the union's statement reads.
“During the time that Thornton was represented by Local 1035, he reported no concerns about racial
discrimination to the union,” the statement continues. “We take the representation of all of our
members very seriously. In every unit that we represent, we strive to ensure that all workers are treated with dignity
and respect, regardless of their individual backgrounds.
No sharks, had to go with sea bass. But they are ill-tempered.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.