Target Lawsuit: Memo Referred to Mexicans as 'Wetbacks,' Filled With Stereotypes
WOODLAND (CBS13) — A lawsuit revealed embarrassing allegations involving a Target warehouse, including referring to Mexicans as wetbacks and stereotyping them as having a lower education level.
In the lawsuit involving the Yolo County warehouse, racial slurs are just the beginning of what three plaintiffs are saying happened while working there.
"Only a Mexican can work this hard. Only a wetback can work this hard," the lawsuit alleges the memo, complete with the Target logo, said.
Lawyer Craig Ashton analyzed the lawsuit, saying, "When I read this memo and the stereotypical and racist language that's in here, my jaw dropped."
The memo in question is titled "Multicultural Tips for the Hispanic Community."
"'They don't all wear sombreros.' What kind of tip is that," Ashton said.
It also says not everyone eats tacos and burritos, or dances to salsa, and that Mexicans have a lower educational level and some may be undocumented.
"When you have the backdrop of the memo, it seems to support stereotypes."
Mr. Ashton says the company letterhead on this memo makes it more than a he-said-she-said case. The plaintiffs believe they were fired out of retaliation, while the company says they were fired for performance reasons.
Target told CBS in a statement, "This document, which was used during conversations at one distribution center, was never part of any formal, or company-wide training."
