Home / Crime and Justice / Noose, Floyd Mockery Alleged at Airport
Noose, Floyd Mockery Alleged at Airport
22 Aug
Summary
- Lawsuit alleges racist conduct including noose and mocking George Floyd's death.
- Former employee's estate claims management ignored repeated complaints.
- Allegations include racial slurs and disparate treatment of employees.
A federal lawsuit filed by the estate of Niena Allen, a former Black baggage handler for Piedmont Airlines, alleges a pervasive pattern of racist behavior at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The complaint details incidents including a noose discovered in a luggage area and white employees mocking George Floyd's death. It further claims white workers reenacted scenes from Django Unchained while imitating the Ku Klux Klan.
Allen's estate asserts that these actions created a racially hostile work environment, and that Piedmont Airlines management neglected to adequately investigate or address numerous employee complaints. The lawsuit points to a specific incident in 2023 where two supervisors allegedly posted a photograph reenacting George Floyd's murder. While those supervisors were fired, another involved supervisor reportedly received a promotion.
Further allegations include racial slurs directed at Black employees and a double standard in disciplinary actions, with white employees facing less severe consequences for misconduct compared to their Black colleagues. Allen initially filed the lawsuit in Arizona state court in December 2025, but it was later moved to federal court in Phoenix on August 12, 2026. Allen passed away in June 2026, but her estate continues to seek damages.
