Pa. Legislative Black Caucus, Pa. Human Relations Commission condemn incident of intimidation in Allentown

Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus    January 13, 2025 | 5:06 PM

HARRISBURG, Jan. 13 – Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus (PLBC) and a representative from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) came together today at a rally in Allentown to share their outrage, express their deep concern and stand in solidarity over the discovery of a noose on a Black female employee's desk in the Community and Economic Development Office in Allentown City Hall on Friday.

"Acts like this have long plagued our communities and serve as a painful reminder of the work still ahead. I am deeply dismayed but unfortunately not surprised," said PLBC Chair and state Rep. Napoleon Nelson, D-Montgomery. "Today, I stand with you to denounce this act of hate and to honor the legacy of the many men and women who have fought – and continue to fight – against racism in Pennsylvania. This anonymous and cowardly act will not silence or intimidate us. Together, we will shine as a beacon of racial equality, dispelling the darkness of hate."

The Allentown Police Department is investigating the incident. The PLBC and PHRC commended the swift response by local authorities and reiterated the importance of transparency and accountability in the investigation.

“Apparently, some folks have been emboldened to acts of racial insensitivity, with the seeming intent of intimidating Black and Brown workers,” said PLBC Secretary and state Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster. "This act is against the very spirit on which Pennsylvania was founded – tolerance – and is a sacrilege to the memory of the many men, women and children who were lynched throughout the United States, all victims of white supremacy. We're not going back, and we're not backing down. Hate has no place here."

A PHRC Civil Rights outreach coordinator joined the rally in Allentown to support the community and reinforce the PHRC's commitment to addressing civil tensions and promoting anti-racism through education and outreach.

"This disturbing act of intimidation and hate has no place in our workplaces or communities," said PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW. "No one should feel unsafe or unwelcome in their place of employment. The PHRC condemns this incident in the strongest possible terms and urges anyone who experiences discrimination to file a complaint with the PHRC. The PHRC enforces the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, which protects individuals from race- and color-based discrimination."

For more information on filing a discrimination complaint, those concerned can contact the PHRC at 717-787-4410 or visit the PHRC website.