Two African-American corrections officers who allege that they’ve been subjected to harassing comments about eating watermelon and fried chicken and experienced other kinds of racial discrimination in the workplace have filed a civil rights lawsuit against York County Prison.

Iris Chambers and Lamar DeShields, who are married and live in Conewago Township, filed the lawsuit on Dec. 17, 2018, in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg. York County Prison, the complaint alleges, has fostered and perpetuated racial discrimination at the workplace, creating a hostile work environment for them.

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“One of the concerns that’s been raised is, ‘If racial discrimination is impacting employment decisions, and the way the guards are treated, there is also a very big concern as to the manner in which African-American prisoners are being treated,’” said Brian Mildenberg, Chambers’ and DeShields’ attorney.

Mildenberg said his clients have communicated that “the pattern of racial discrimination has existed for a significant period of time at the York County Prison.” He said it’s no longer tolerable for them.

Despite filing internal complaints and ones with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Mildenberg said the discrimination and hostile work environment have continued.

“The plaintiffs felt compelled to seek relief from the court system,” he said.

Mark Walters, a spokesman for York County, said in an email that it does not comment on pending litigation.

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Chambers has been a corrections officer since 2008. Meanwhile, DeShields has been a corrections officer since 2003.

In the lawsuit, Chambers and DeShields allege that York County Prison has investigated them without good cause and “shamelessly fabricated or otherwise embellished allegations” to justify inquiries and disciplinary actions. But employees who aren’t African-American are neither investigated nor subject to discipline when they engage in the same conduct, the complaint states.

York County Prison employs more than 500 people. About 20 employees are African-American, according to the lawsuit.

Chambers and DeShields state that York County Prison has been dismissive when they’ve reported that managers and employees harassed them with comments about eating watermelon and fried chicken. That happened, the lawsuit alleges, when they complained about an employee who touts a Confederate flag, too.

The husband and wife allege that they’ve been repeatedly assigned to work in the most dangerous parts of the jail and passed over for promotions in favor of less-qualified people.

In one case, Chambers alleges that a fellow corrections officer disclosed her personal information to inmates. The lawsuit states that she received a one-day suspension after filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Meanwhile, DeShields alleges that he tried to get his son hired at York County Prison. It’s common, the complaint states, for the jail to hire family members.

That didn’t happen. But York County Prison hired about 33 new employees who were not African-American, according to the lawsuit.

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Chambers and DeShields are asking the court to stop York County Prison from engaging in racial discrimination. They’re also seeking compensatory damages, attorney fees and other kinds of relief.

Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.

Also of interest, check out this photo gallery of crime suspects in York County: