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Housing Authority Rehires Controversial Firm

MINNEAPOLIS-Community leaders and former employees allege discrimination at Burns/Securitas, which provides security for three-quarters of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority's 40 multifamily rental complexes.

By Jim McCartney | Updated on March 08, 2002

MINNEAPOLIS-The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority’s decision to renew its security contract with Burns International Security Service, a unit of Sweden-based Securitas, for three-quarters of its 40 multifamily rental complexes has angered thecommunity coalition formed to fight alleged hate incidents. Security officers have filed charges against Burns with the Minneapolis Human Rights Commission and the National Labor Relations Board.

A number of Somali security officers employed by Burns to protect residents living in public housing high-rises were allegedly singled out for hateful comments and threatsby company supervisors because of they were black and Muslim, according to the coalition of African-American and Somali leaders.

Fellow security officers who came to the defense of the Somalis have been harassed and even fired, critics allege.

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