Long Beach workers allege discrimination in Public Works, call for national Black employee protections
Despite city officials denying systemic discrimination, Black workers like Anthony Holmes and Kyle Seals are speaking out.
Anti-Black sentiments have long run deep in American society, and while eradicating these attitudes entirely may seem unlikely, the emotional and mental toll of racism on Black Americans often goes unrecognized. The struggle for equality often leaves those fighting for it feeling isolated and unsupported, a reality that Long Beach refuse worker Anthony Holmes knows all too well.
In January 2021, Holmes, who at the time had worked for the city’s Public Works department for about seven years, filed a formal complaint with the city detailing how officials consistently overlooked Black workers for promotions. In February 2022, Human Resources Officer Ramon Garcia sent Holmes a letter acknowledging the complaint, stating the city had retained an outside attorney to conduct an investigation.
