A trucker is suing his former employer, TMC Transportation, after being fired over his dreadlocks.
The details: Drew Harvey, 26, from Crete, Illinois, was fired on June 24 after working there for a few weeks. The company claimed his long hair was a "safety issue."
- Harvey said he saw other employees, both men and women, with long hair who weren't asked to cut it.
- He filed a civil rights complaint in July and a lawsuit on September 26, accusing TMC of racial discrimination.
The background: Harvey explained that his dreadlocks have spiritual significance since he hasn't cut them after his father's death four years ago.
- TMC didn't respond to Harvey's civil rights claim, which led him to take legal action.
What they're saying: "It's not about just cutting my hair. For me, it's deeper than that," Harvey stated, emphasizing the cultural and emotional value his dreadlocks hold.
The lawsuit claims that other Black employees at TMC faced similar issues in the past, reported Des Moines Register.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the alleged racial discrimination by TMC Transportation.