Two Philadelphia police officers filed suit on Monday against the Philadelphia Police Department and Department supervisors alleging the creation and sanctioning of a racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Jewish environment. The complaint (
full text) in
Gonzalez v. City of Philadelphia, (ED PA, filed 11/19/2018) seeks damages for harassment, discrimination and hostile work environment in violation of 42 USC Secs. 1981, 1983 and 1985.
WHYY News further summarizes the complaint:
The federal civil rights lawsuit claims an array of abuse — that the officers were not given time off to celebrate Jewish holidays, that a Nazi “SS” symbol and a German phrase meaning “skull and crossbones” were scratched onto their lockers, and that a police patrol car was marked with the Star of David with the words “Hebrew Hammer.”
Civil rights lawyers Brian Mildenberg, who is representing the officers, said those acts were intended to “scare and harass” Reznik, a Jewish immigrant born in Russia who is a 12-year veteran of the force.
