Black worker says she was fired after reporting noose at Sterling Heights Assembly plant

click to enlarge Sterling Heights Assembly plant. - Google Maps
Google Maps
Sterling Heights Assembly plant.

A 34-year-old woman said she has been fired from her job after reporting a noose she discovered at the Sterling Heights Assembly plant.

Now, Charlene Lust and her four children may soon be evicted from their apartment on Detroit’s west side because she can’t afford to pay rent.

Lust, who is black, was working for a subcontractor, Kentucky-based MacLellan Integrated Services, when she came across a rope hanging in the auto plant.

“I literally almost fainted. I’ve never seen one,” Lust told The Free Press. “When I saw the noose, I was like stuck.”

Lust said she was fired for photographing the noose. Employees are barred from taking photos at the plant.

MacLellan did not return Metro Times' call for comment.

In February, General Motors announced that it’s offering a $25,000 reward for information about nooses and “whites-only” signs that were found at its plant in Toledo.

Also in February, a student hung a black doll from a dormitory at Eastern Michigan University.

Stay on top of Detroit news and views. Sign up for our weekly issue newsletter delivered each Wednesday.

About The Author

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling is an award-winning investigative journalist who operated Motor City Muckraker, an online news site devoted to exposing abuses of power and holding public officials accountable. Neavling also hosted Muckraker Report on 910AM from September 2017 to July 2018. Before launching Motor City Muckraker,...
Scroll to read more Metro Detroit News articles

Newsletters

Join Detroit Metro Times Newsletters

Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.