Lawsuit claims Oakland Mall profiled, discriminated against shoppers
A former security worker is suing Oakland Mall managers and a security firm, claiming he was fired for refusing to enforce discriminatory policies, including racially profiling customers.
David Niewolak, who was hired as the lead dispatcher with Prudential Security at the Troy property in 2015, alleges he had no negative write-ups before the termination in June, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
He claims his former employer required him “to engage in unethical, immoral and illegal acts” that involved targeting minorities. This included following or approaching African-American males in groups of three or more, as well as asking black men “that looked suspicious to produce identification upon entry to the mall and answer questions about what stores they intended on going to,” the filing stated.
Niewolak also alleges that white managers called the baton and flashlights that security guards carried “(n-word) beating sticks,” black women were not allowed to breastfeed and Arab men faced extra scrutiny. Meanwhile, his complaint claims “mall management also had a policy which required the prompt removal of persons with disabilities from the food court” since they were considered “offensive” to other visitors.
Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2018/12/17/lawsuit-oakland-mall-profiled-discriminated-against-shoppers/2342114002/