The wife of the Northwestern University Police Department officer Freddie Lee revealed today that NU fired him. At a forum tonight in the Multicultural Center, 1936 Sheridan Rd., Jenny Lee said that last Wednesday her husband received a letter from the university informing him of the firing.
“You think about these things and it makes you want to cry sometimes,” Jenny Lee says. “(We have) a family with children, what are we going to do?”
The forum, hosted by the Asian Pacific American Coalition, a student organization, aimed to raise awareness about discrimination in the workplace. Freddie Lee did not attend the forum on the advice of his lawyer. Marie Claire Tran, a local attorney, and Diana Lin, an attorney and adjunct lecturer of Asian-American Studies, spoke about the legal protections against discrimination on a panel with Jenny Lee. Lin says that it is too early to, “comment on the strength of (Lee’s) case,” and instead spoke about Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects workers from discrimination in the workplace.
Freddie Lee was placed on paid administrative leave on September 10. He was not allowed to collect his belongings from the police station, including items in his personal locker. Jenny Lee said that after approximately a month of failed attempts to gather the belongings, they were finally delivered last week. His items, including a laptop, clothes and CDs, were packaged in bags normally used for bagging evidence.
“It was humiliating,” Lee says. She also says that “several” Northwestern employees have contacted Lee’s lawyer with allegations of discrimination, and defended her husband from charges that he is seeking a large settlement.
“People may say he’s looking for money,” Lee says, “(but) all he’s wants is justice.”
I don’t think this will go down in court. Police/fraternities have this group camaraderie/dynamic that can be great, but can also be very demeaning, and members are supposed to accept it either way.
Sue, sue, sue, sue. It is the American way. Sue until you get justice and money.
John above me would probably just have people accept crap.
“Sue, sue, sue, sue. It is the American way. Sue until you get justice and money.”
No John. The American way is to sit back and let your own fellow policemen, the guys you have to trust with your life, discriminate against you because of your skin color and ethnicity. Right?
ATTENTION NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS
If you have ever been a victim of racial discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or have been a victim of racial profiling from Northwestern University; please contact NUDiscrimination@live.com Please provide your name, email, phone number, and a very brief description of your experiences. I would like to see if you would be willing to take a stand in order to help make a positive change for the Northwestern community.