Employees suing General Mills over ‘white supremacists’ commissioning Stone Mountain mural

COVINGTON, Ga. — Several Black employees are filing a lawsuit against General Mills Operations, LLC saying they have had to endure a “hostile work environment” for years.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by Channel 2 Action News, they claim the General Mills plant in Covington is run by a group of “male white supremacists operating in management and HR” known as the “Good Ole Boys.”

They claim that since the plant was started in 1988, systems have been in place to treat white employees better than Black employees.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The lawsuit goes on to say that in 2005, the “Good Ole Boys” had General Mills commission a mural of the Confederate carving on Stone Mountain using official General Mills characters as the Confederate generals. In the mural, Sonny the Cuckoo Bird, the Cocoa Puffs mascot, is depicted as Jefferson Davis, Chef Wendell, a former Cinnamon Toast Crunch mascot, is Robert E. Lee and Buzz the Bee, the Cheerios mascot, is seen as Stonewall Jackson.

The employees say that for more than 20 years, HR has been ignoring acts of racism, including Black employees being threatened with demotions and pay cuts.

TRENDING STORIES:

• 15-year-old Troup County boy in critical condition after shooting 10-year-old sister
• Trump case put on hold until outcome of appeal against Fani Willis, Appeals court says
• Disturbing surveillance video shows shootout at metro Atlanta wings restaurant over $1

The lawsuit, which was filed earlier this week in the Northern District of Georgia, demands a jury trial, financial losses, compensatory damages and more.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to General Mills for a response to the lawsuit. They released a statement that read,

“We do not comment on pending litigation. General Mills has a long-standing and ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Read the full lawsuit below.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Disturbing surveillance video shows shootout at metro Atlanta wings restaurant over $1

©2024 Cox Media Group