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Worker Fired For Allegedly Hanging Monkey Doll With Twine At Jacob Javits Center
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David Cruz
Published Jul 23, 2020
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Photograph by fresh turnip on Flickr
By
David Cruz
Published Jul 23, 2020
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A worker with a subcontracting firm involved in the expansion of the Jacob Javits Center was fired on Wednesday after supervisors learned the person had allegedly used twine to hang a toy monkey on a set of pipes at the Hudson Yards complex.
The incident was reported on Tuesday by Lendlease Turner Joint Venture, which is carrying out the massive $1.5 billion project. Workers found the Beanie Baby monkey with twine wrapped around the doll's hat, evoking America's history of lynching and bigotry. LTJV ceased all work on Tuesday and called in the NYPD to investigate the matter. The alleged perpetrator was terminated after LTJV determined their identity.
"As soon as we learned of the incident, we immediately took action, including notifying law enforcement. It is unacceptable for workers to be exposed to any hateful act," read a company statement.
LTJV is now launching mandatory anti-bias training for its subcontractors set to begin on Friday. "We are working collaboratively with our trade partners and unions to communicate to every worker," said the company.
The NYPD said the worker has not been arrested, though its Hate Crimes Task Force is still investigating. An LTJV spokesperson could not provide the terminated worker's name or the name of the subcontractor.
The incident is the latest in a string of similar incidents around the country amidst a national reckoning on racial inequality. Nooses were also found mostly recently in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx last month. Days before the Bronx incident was reported, another noose was found in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park.
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David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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