Posting of this story is intended to give readers an idea of the intense nature of the struggle for racial equality. ( the date of 10-21-11 may not be the actual date of publication )
By SUSAN HAIGH
Black
pastor and activist Cornell Lewis said Friday he plans to decide this weekend
whether to continue his hunger strike to protest what he calls a racist attitude
by mostly white supervisors toward employees at the state's only secure
facility for delinquent boys.
Lewis, a youth service officer at theMiddletown
facility, the Connecticut
Juvenile Training
School
Lewis, 61, told The Associated Press on Friday that he will decide Saturday whether to continue the strike, begin consuming protein shakes or end the strike. Starting at 208 pounds, at a height of 6 feet, he said he has lost nearly 10 pounds and some muscle mass.
"I'm going to see how I feel," he said. "If I can keep going, I will."
Training School officials have not met any of Lewis' demands, including an apology to the youth service officers for what he says was biased treatment. DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt said Lewis hasn't presented a specific complaint of racism to the superintendent of the juvenile facility, William Rosenbeck, for him to investigate.
" Kleeblatt said. "There's just been communication with The Associated Press."
Lewis' protest comes more than a year after he and four black co-workers filed a federal lawsuit against state officials, claiming black employees have been the target of racially motivated disciplinary actions, are promoted at a slower pace than others and have faced harassment. They also have claimed that their opinions and concerns about matters such as restraining Training School residents have been ignored.
The lawsuit lists specific incidents.
Lewis said he has received an outpouring of support, including from minority employees at theConnecticut Valley Hospital ,
a Middletown
"I think they know that I'm serious," he said. "To do this for five days, it's not been easy."
Lewis worked on Monday but has been off duty for the rest of the week. He is scheduled to return on Saturday.
Kleeblatt said if Lewis does come back to work, there's an expectation by DCF that he can physically perform his duties.
Lewis, a youth service officer at the
Lewis, 61, told The Associated Press on Friday that he will decide Saturday whether to continue the strike, begin consuming protein shakes or end the strike. Starting at 208 pounds, at a height of 6 feet, he said he has lost nearly 10 pounds and some muscle mass.
"I'm going to see how I feel," he said. "If I can keep going, I will."
Training School officials have not met any of Lewis' demands, including an apology to the youth service officers for what he says was biased treatment. DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt said Lewis hasn't presented a specific complaint of racism to the superintendent of the juvenile facility, William Rosenbeck, for him to investigate.
" Kleeblatt said. "There's just been communication with The Associated Press."
Lewis' protest comes more than a year after he and four black co-workers filed a federal lawsuit against state officials, claiming black employees have been the target of racially motivated disciplinary actions, are promoted at a slower pace than others and have faced harassment. They also have claimed that their opinions and concerns about matters such as restraining Training School residents have been ignored.
The lawsuit lists specific incidents.
Lewis said he has received an outpouring of support, including from minority employees at the
"I think they know that I'm serious," he said. "To do this for five days, it's not been easy."
Lewis worked on Monday but has been off duty for the rest of the week. He is scheduled to return on Saturday.
Kleeblatt said if Lewis does come back to work, there's an expectation by DCF that he can physically perform his duties.
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