[act-ma] Racist harassment of Ravi Raj; Picket Thursday, 9/3/09, 12 noon, 1737 Cambridge Street, Cambridge

[Geoff Carens]

*Dear All,

Ravi Raj is employed at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science
(IQSS). Beginning in 2007, Ravi endured disgusting racial slurs and having
his Indian accent ridiculed on the job. He complained to many responsible
administrators, with the result that his office was taken away, his work was
subjected to extra scrutiny, and he received mediocre evaluations despite
superb productivity and credentials. Ravi, a member of the Harvard Union of
Clerical and Technical Workers, turned to the union for help, only to face
retaliatory discipline from management.

Ravi has been confronted at work and threatened by a stranger, hours before
a planned meeting with administrators to address racial discrimination. He
has experienced anonymous telephone harassment. Ravi has faced creepy,
unusual surveillance with a supervisor being spotted taking pictures of
Ravi's friend's car, which was parked near Ravi's workplace. Throughout Ravi
has provided his usual excellent IT desktop support. His work output was
recently shown to be among the best in his unit, below only the department
manager's level of production. He gets effusive compliments from clients all
the time. Despite this, on August 20, Ravi was threatened in writing with
termination, supposedly for poor performance! His job is now on the line
because he has dared to speak out against racial epithets and
discrimination.

Ravi has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). He has refused to be
intimidated, even now as he faces being fired. Ravi supports two children
who are pursuing higher education, and his father, who is an invalid. He
urgently needs our support! Please join workers, students and concerned
community members:

RALLY! in support of Ravi Raj
Thursday, September 3, 12 noon
IQSS, 1737 Cambridge St., Cambridge MA
(Click on the link to a map below this message)

In the aftermath of the shocking arrest of Professor Gates, we can't ignore
the racist treatment of Ravi Raj! Let's all get together and fight racism.
Together we will win! Please forward this email as widely as possible. A
flyer is attached.

In Solidarity,

Geoff Carens, Union Rep, HUCTW/AFSCME local 3650   (617) 803-4221

Map of 1737 Cambridge St.:

http://maps.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTExNmIycG51BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLWJ1dHRvbgRzbGsDbGluaw--#mvt=m&lat=42.375443&lon=-71.113491&zoom=17&q1=1737%20cambridge%20st%20cambridge%20ma&gid1=10190619

*
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