last stop: justice town
last stop: justice town Chaldean prevails in SMART case By Vanessa Denha Garmo Mazyn Barash has been on a bus ride of legal wranglings for seven years that finally stopped last month inside the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. They ruled in favor of Barash, a Farmington Hills bus mechanic who in 2004 filed a suit against Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), its agents and officers, members and employees for unlawfully discriminating against him. Barash claimed that around the time the war started in Iraq, co-workers began to verbally attack him. He said that he was insulted and threatened repeatedly at work because of his Iraqi background and last month the commissioners reported that there was clear evidence that the 53-year-old did in fact have racial slurs hurled at him by colleagues who worked for SMART in 2003. After months of abuse, Barash — a Chaldean from Iraq — left SMART in 2004 saying he just couldn’t cope anymore. Although officials from SMART have not commented on this case, the company did defend itself against Barash’s claims. Over a two and a half-year period, there were 17 days of hearings; the hearing referee recommended a dismissal of the matter. However, the commission eventually ruled in favor of Barash and according to documents by the Civil Rights Commission, Barash endured a list of ethnically motivated attacks. The attacks include: threatening phone calls, a poster at the workplace depicting a camel in a crosshairs with words, “I’d Fly 10,000 Miles to Smoke a Camel,” and a letter referring to Barash as a “Sand N-ger.” There was also outrageous conduct by one coworker in particular which included calling Barash a “raghead,” wearing a towel on his head, telling Barash that he smokes camels, telling Barash that he wished he could “kill all Iraqis” and calling him a “Saddam lover.” Also, there was a website created shortly after Barash left his job that was distributed via email. “It clearly targeted Chaldeans,” said Barash. “The guy who created it even put up a picture of the Chaldean Church and the Pope with Hitler’s mustache.” In the documents, the hearing referee opined that the communication and conduct listed was “simply locker-room trash talk” or the result of the political climate in Iraq. But in the end, the commission ruled in favor of Barash. “Justice at last,” said Barash. “It is gratifying to know that the commission looked at this seriously and did the right thing. It is very hard for anyone to see it any other way. I am grateful that the commission took the time and effort to review the information and all the testimonies. I was finally vindicated.” Call 866-501-DOCS (3627) for a Providence physician Isn’t their health worth making the appointment, today? Call before noon for a same day appointment. Providence and Providence Park Hospital primary care physicians are available to see you for same day or next day appointments. Tell us what works for your schedule! To make an appointment with a high quality primary care physician, call 866-501-DOCS(3627). We’ll work together with you to find the most appropriate doctor for you and your family. We’ll give you information to decide which physician is right for you such as certification, education, location, hours, insurances accepted and more. A PASSION for HEALING HOSPITALS IN SOUTHFIELD AND NOVI 32 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2011
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