Kyrin Taylor is a 23-year-old aspiring electrician in the greater New York area. Since December, he has been working as an electrician's apprentice at an undisclosed location in Long Island, New York. On most days, he is able to do his work without distraction, but a disturbing object recently disrupted his workflow. On an April morning, Taylor reported to work only to find a noose hanging in his workplace.
"Seeing this took my breath away and I really did not know what to do or what to think," Taylor told CNN.
Disturbed by the noose, he called the police in order to document the incident and notified his union representative at IBEW Local 25. Then, he notified his boss and that's where things worsened. According to Taylor and his attorney, Federick Brewington, his boss scolded him for notifying the police. Unfortunately, this is not the only time that he has faced discrimination at work.
"I am the only African-American working for [Cooper Power and Lighting] and this was not the first time I was treated with disrespect," he said.
"I have been targeted by this act of pure hate and I just don't know what to think. When will people stop thinking it is alright to terrorize Black people?"
Fortunately, Taylor's union, IBEW Local 25, has found a new place for him to work. However, the trauma of the incident still sticks with him and he continues to seek out additional support as he navigates this tough time.
"He's highly upset," Brewington explained.
"He said to me that besides being disgusted, I am afraid. And I said, 'You can't live in fear, but being afraid is not unhealthy.'"
Moving forward, Brewington and Taylor plan on addressing the matter in court. At this time, Cooper Power and Lighting have not issued a public statement addressing the matter.
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