Newsday reports that several Asian American police officers at the New York Port Authority have filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and a racially hostile work environment. As the article states,

The lawsuit said that since 1996, Asian police officers have faced racial slurs by non-Asian officers, who called them “chink,” “gook,” “slant-eye” or “fish-head.” It said non-Asian officers, including Port Authority management employees, also made derogatory references to Asian food and mocked Asian accents over the Port Authority police radio. . .

It said officers who complained about the derogatory remarks, racial slurs or discriminatory treatment were either ignored or subject to retaliatory action including false disciplinary charges, denial of promotions, social ostracism and public ridicule. . . In particular, the lawsuit cited the difficulty Asian officers have had gaining promotions in the Port Authority police force, which has more than 1,000 officers.

Racism at a police agency against their workers of color? Absolutely shocking! Yeah right. More like the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, it looks like another example of the “old White boys network” feeling that their Asian American coworkers were unworthy of being treated with respect. The Port Authority apparently also felt that their Asian American coworkers were powerless in standing up and fighting for their rights. Wrong!

I hope the Asian American police officers take the Port Authority for everything that it’s worth. Organizations need to learn that racism has financial, along with cultural and political, consequences.