Tesla Gigafactory plant accused of ‘severe race-based harassment’ in new lawsuit

WorldPolitics
16 Apr 2026 • 1:21 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Tesla Gigafactory plant accused of ‘severe race-based harassment’ in new lawsuit

  • Kamern Cowan, a Black employee, has filed a federal lawsuit against Tesla, alleging severe and pervasive race-based discrimination and harassment at its Nevada Gigafactory.
  • The complaint, filed March 13, 2024, details persistent use of the "n-word" and other racial slurs by white coworkers and supervisors.
  • Cowan claims managers compared people of color to livestock and employees made gorilla noises at African-American colleagues, with higher-ups allegedly ignoring the behavior.
  • Despite repeated reports to HR, no effective action was taken, forcing Cowan to alter his route to avoid harassers, which led to disciplinary actions for tardiness.
  • Cowan is seeking monetary damages, including back pay, emotional distress, and punitive damages, for the alleged civil rights violations and hostile work environment.

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