A major Midlands arms manufacturer is facing accusations of racial discrimination after a black employee says a noose was left at his workplace.
These and other claims of a racially hostile work environment are included in a lawsuit filed against Palmetto State Armory by a former employee who says he faced harassment from his white coworkers and supervisors before being fired for reporting the behavior .
Tremell Washington worked as a gunsmith for the Lexington County-based firearms manufacturer from November 2021 to September 2022. Washington alleges that several individuals at Palmetto State Armory, including supervisors, used the “n-word” in his presence while he worked there, according to the lawsuit.
On August 30, 2022, Washington said he found an air hose tied in a noose at his workplace. When he brought the noose to the plant manager’s attention, the manager “laughed,” the lawsuit alleges. Washington also claims that white colleagues have posted racist material on their Facebook pages.
On September 2, he says he found the noose again at his workplace. That day, he says, a white colleague also told him to put his hands up and put on an “I can’t breathe” shirt, a reference to black people killed by police officers. Washington said that when he complained to the plant manager about the reappearance of the noose, he said the manager was hinting at a “don’t mess up” message.
Four days later, Washington said his supervisor began “intensely criticizing and scrutinizing” his work. He believed in trying to get him to stop. Washington was then terminated in front of his colleagues at the end of the day.
In the lawsuit, Washington alleges that his employers failed to respond to incidents of workplace discrimination and unequal treatment at work because of his race. He is asking for damages, attorney fees, reinstatement and a written apology.
In a response filed in federal court, Palmetto State Armory denies Washington’s claims, noting that Washington had previously been warned against leaving work without permission, leaving his team understaffed and falling behind on production. In his filing, Washington claims he left early due to migraines and that he informed management before leaving.
Washington’s lawsuit, filed by Chance Sturup of Cromer Babb and Porter, was initially filed in Lexington County District Court. It was later moved to U.S. District Court by armory attorney Chandler Aragona of the firm Burr and Forman.
