For the first time, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie is publicly
addressing the mounting complaints by current and former black workers at the
Kansas City VA Medical Center.
The site is facing at least two lawsuits and a growing
number racial complaints and allegations.
Some of those complaints include staff members reportedly
making lynching jokes, black workers called racial slurs, and illegal personnel
practices against black staff.
During his visit, Wilkie promising their voices will be
heard, complaints of this kind will not be tolerated and cultural change
throughout the agency.
“One charge of discrimination is too many, and I do think
that we are on the proper road to correcting that and making sure that everyone
feels welcome,” Wilkie said.
But this trip did not come without raising some questions
about the true motives.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver who represents the 5th
Congressional District says he was not alerted about the unexpected trip at
all.
’It’s a little disrespectful for the secretary to come into
the 5th congressional district, and not even notify me. That’s generally the
protocol, when you consider the issue.. which is issues regarding race, it
would have been even more reason for him to notify me,” Cleaver said.
Cleaver says he has also received a number of complaints and
is speaking with different organizations about the matter.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) Chairman Jerry
Moran (R-Kan.) spoke with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert
Wilkie following the Secretary’s in-person visit to the Kansas City VA Medical
Center (KC VAMC). The purpose of the visit was to discuss discrimination
allegations with staff members at KC VAMC.
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