Discrimination Coverage

Black students in Durham schools suspended & expelled at much higher rates, study shows

Community members in Durham held a meeting Tuesday evening to discuss discipline disparities experienced by Black students in Durham County.

Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter

Israel flag in front of Nash Co. church vandalized

A Nash County pastor said the other flags at the church, an American flag and a Christian flag, were left alone. The vandalism comes as officials from Gaza announced more than 8,000 Palestinians have been killed due to the Israel-Hamas War, which started after Hamas militants killed over 1,400 Israelis in a surprise attack on October 7.

WRAL staff

Police tell neighbors people are in custody after antisemitic flyers found in Wake Co.

Police did not say if the people responsible would face charges for leaving the flyers in a northern Wake County neighborhood Sunday.

Two men cited after antisemitic flyers were distributed in northern Wake neighborhood

Two men were cited after anti-Semitic flyers were found on properties in northern Wake County Sunday afternoon.

Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporter

Parents say Charlotte schools' cheer safety policy banning braids, wigs is discriminatory

Five Hopewell High School mom's say their daughters made the cheerleading team, but were told if they wear braids or wigs, they would be kicked off the squad.

WCNC

Fact check: Can gay Americans get 'married in the morning' and 'thrown out of a restaurant' in the afternoon?'

Kick-starting the celebrations for Pride month, President Joe Biden said: "When a person can be married in the morning and thrown out of a restaurant for being gay in the afternoon, something is still very wrong in America,"

Grace Abels and Nuria Diaz Munoz, PolitiFact reporters

Durham County to pay $790,000 to former county manager who claimed discrimination

Durham County Commissioners voted to settle a lawsuit from the former county manager.

Monica Casey, WRAL Durham reporter

Durham County settles lawsuit with former county manager

His lawsuit claims race and sex discrimination played a role in his firing by Durham County Commissioners. Now, the Board has voted to settle and pay him $790,000.

Jury orders Tesla to pay former worker $3.1M in racism lawsuit

The case was brought by Owen Diaz, who worked as an elevator operator at the plant. He reported he regularly heard racial slurs, including the N-word, on the Fremont factory floor, and saw racist graffiti in bathrooms and a racially insensitive cartoon.

Charter schools reverse course, allow students to keep long hairstyles through end of school year

Classical Charter Schools of America alerted families in its four schools in eastern North Carolina that school rules on grooming won't be enforced through the remainder of the academic year.

School defends grooming standards, sees 'trumped up controversy' in Native American families' resistance to cut boys' hair

Classical Charter Schools of America, owners of four schools in south and east North Carolina, posted a statement online in defense of school grooming standards in response to families in Whiteville and Leland who pushed back after their sons were asked to cut their hair.

Family sees discrimination in school's demand that boy cut his long hair

Administrators at a charter school in Columbus County are demanding a first-grade boy's hair be cut before students return from spring break.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Hillside High School student advocates to end hair-based discrimination

Two years ago, Hillside High School student Nicole Pyles was forced to cut her braids during a home softball game. Since then, she's advocated to end hair-based discrimination.

'You need representation': Durham student advocates to end hair-based discrimination

Two years ago, Hillside High School student Nicole Pyles was forced to cut her braids during a home softball game. Since then, she's advocated to end hair-based discrimination.

Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporter

One year later: How much impact has Wake County's non-discrimination ordinance had?

It's been one year this month since Wake County's non-discrimination ordinance went into effect. WRAL News has discovered the ordinance only applied to a handful of discrimination complaints filed in this first year.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

Muslim community presses Shaw U. to reopen mosque on campus so they can worship

A local Muslim congregation says they've been locked out of their mosque by Shaw University, and they want to know why.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capital bureau chief

Former UNC grad student suing university for discrimination

The lawsuit filed in federal court comes after a flurry of other claims of racial discrimination at UNC in recent years.

NAACP Raleigh-Apex chapter joins Holly Springs residents pushing for non-discrimination ordinance

Activists are urging Holly Springs Town Council to pass a non-discrimination ordinance. Now, the Raleigh-Apex chapter of the NAACP is joining the push saying the ordinance can protect the LGBTQ community.

Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter

Dozens rally for Holly Springs town leaders to pass non-discrimination ordinance

Activists are urging Holly Springs Town Council to pass a non-discrimination ordinance.

Garner adopts non-discrimination ordinance

Garner's Town Council unanimously approved adopting a non-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday night.

Raleigh couple says HOA targeting them based on race, gender identity

A family who lives in a Raleigh townhouse said they were told by their neighborhood's homeowner's association to take down a Black Lives Matter sign from inside their window. They believe they are being targeted because they are an interracial, same-sex couple.

Bryan Mims, WRAL reporter

Despite protests, Holly Springs leaders moving forward without non-discrimination ordinance

Holly Springs is moving forward without a non-discrimination ordinance. This comes after LGBTQ+ supporters called for inclusion and asked for the town council to pass a Pride Month declaration.

Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter

Some asking Holly Springs leaders to pass non-discrimination ordinance, Pride Month declaration

Holly Springs is moving forward without a non-discrimination ordinance. This comes after LGBTQ+ supporters called for inclusion and asked for the town council to pass a Pride Month declaration.

Wells Fargo staged 'fake' job interviews for Black people, women in quest for diversity

Joe Bruno, a former executive in the wealth management division of Wells Fargo, had long been troubled by the way his unit handled certain job interviews.

Emily Flitter, New York Times

Wake leaders sign non-discrimination ordinance

Wake County and municipality leaders joined to support a new non-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday. They said it will protect people from discrimination in employment or public settings including stores, restaurants and hotels.