May 2, 2019—Charlene Lust says she has no doubt that what she saw in a Macomb County, Mich., auto plant in February was a noose, according to a report from The Detroit Free Press. She snapped a photo of the rope, which she believes was left as a message to African Americans like her, in the area of the plant’s paint shop.
Now, the 34-year-old mother of four is fighting for her job and praying she can hold onto her home, two tasks that have become a challenge because she said she was told she cannot return to work, according to the report. The reason? Photographing, and possibly posting on Facebook a video of, that looped rope hanging in the Sterling Heights Assembly plant.
She worked for a subcontractor, MacLellan Integrated Services, a company based in Lexington, Ky. Lust says she was terminated.
Lust has filed complaints claiming discrimination based on race and retaliation with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights against MacLellan, FCA and her union.
