HOUSTON, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Hundreds of workers and community leaders in Houston Monday held a protest rally against a local company they accuse of displaying racist symbols.
Civil rights activist Sara Kane, the Rev. Peter Johnson and other demonstrators massed in front of the Mickey Leland Federal Office Building, pressuring for a federal investigation of the Turner Industries factory in Houston, television station KTRK reported.
The protesters allege Turner, a business servicing the oil industry, has been displaying rebel flags and nooses -- actions they say violate their civil rights.
Turner Industries allegedly has had civil rights complaints in other cities where it operates, KHOU-TV, Houston reported.
Roland Toups, chief executive officer of Turner Industries, responded Monday to a federal lawsuit filed last week in Texas alleging race harassment and discrimination against his company saying, "Make no mistake, Turner Industries stands for diversity and inclusion for all. Our record supports that. We intend to defend our company and the jobs of our 15,000 employees who are employed in various divisions of the company."
