Sexual harassment trial against ASU began this week

The sexual and racial harassment trial against Alabama State University began this week. A former female employee testified that a female African- American administrator for the university subjected female officer workers to racial and sexual harassment, according to the Montgomery.

Three women, Cynthia Williams, Jacqueline Weatherly and Lydia Burkhalter initially filed the lawsuit in 2010.

The women allege that LaVonnette Bartley, who was the associate executive director of marketing and communications, harassed them with racial slurs, unwanted sexual comments and touching.

Williams testified that Bartley would press her breasts and leg against her and would complement Williams on her legs. Bartley would also talk to Williams about Burkhalter’s breasts and buttocks, referring to Burkhalter’s beasts as “melons” and calling her backside “two big Christmas hams.”

Bartlet also purchased tight-fitting clothes for Burkhalter to wear in the office and once asked her to strip so Bartley could see her tattoos.

The women also stated that Bartley would regularly use the n-word.

Williams also alleges that she complained about the harassment to the president’s special assistant John Knight and was fired as a consequence. An Alabama sexual harassment can protect an employee against retaliation.

Sexual harassment in the workplace does not have to be tolerated. An Alabama sexual harassment lawyer can give a victim the strength to stand up to their abusers. When a person loses their job or suffers from emotional distress an Alabama sexual harassment attorney can seek compensation on their behalf.