ACLU letter claims discriminatory hiring at E. Prov schools

By: Samantha Lavien
Slavien@abc6.com
Twitter: @SLavienABC6

Rhode Island ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown sent a letter to city leaders in East Providence pointing to allegations of minority discrimination in hiring practices at city schools.

“We talked to a number of employees in East Providence as well as the head of the local NAACP and they expressed very serious concerns about what was going on in the school department in terms of hiring minority employees,” said Brown.

Brown says the city is made up of about 16% minorities but city schools only employee about 4%. He says the city is not following the non-discriminatory hiring practices that they are legally obligated to. Those were mandated following a 1994 settlement.

“I think that this is something that really deserves immediate attention. It’s been going on for a very long time and there is understandably a lot of frustration among the employees,” said Brown.

NAACP President Jim Vincent says he’s received multiple complaints.

“I’ve been getting complaints over the years about teachers and especially principals of color having a tough time over there,” said Vincent.

And, Vincent says the problem is more widespread than just in the schools.

“There’s been complaints about fire recruitment, police, the former chief was harassed until the point of retirement he was a person of color, also in terms of city hall,” said Vincent.

There is a pending lawsuit with an East Providence principal. She’s the same one who brought charges in the 90’s that led to the current settlement.

The Mayor and Superintendent both say they can’t comment on the case because of its legal nature.

(C) WLNE 2015