A former Brooklyn Botanic Gardens employee has filed a suit alleging race and age discrimination in federal court. 47-year-old Anthony Quarless, who worked there for 28 years and was the BBG's head of security, claims that he was pressured to hire a white subordinate in favor of an equally qualified black applicant, was directed to investigate crimes committed by blacks but not whites, and was forced to punish a black employee differently than a white one, The Post reports.
In this last instance, a white intern who was caught swiping coins from a fountain was merely "suspended," while a black employee who was "caught swiping cash from the gift shop was not only fired, but marched through the front lobby in handcuffs." This seems especially out of balance because those coins are people's dreams and wishes. Quarless has a masters degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and oversaw 30 guards. He contacted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2009 to complain, and was fired in July of 2010, he says in part because of his age.
