Union alleges racial slurs, threats from data center protesters at Pittsburg City Council meeting

The North Coast States Carpenters Union has demanded an investigation into an incident at an August 3 Pittsburg City Council meeting, where union members supporting the AVAIO Perseus Data Center project allegedly faced racial slurs, homophobic epithets, threats, and intimidation from anti-data center protesters. The confrontation reportedly occurred in an overflow room when approximately 25 union Carpenters attended to advocate for the development at the Pittsburg Technology Park.

According to Jay Bradshaw, head of the union, Black Carpenters were subjected to the N-word and accused of betraying their race, while Latino Carpenters were called sellouts. Protesters also allegedly ordered union workers to leave the public meeting. The disruption became so loud that the Council called for a reset, and Pittsburg Police officers intervened. Union representatives directed their members to move to the back of the room to de-escalate the situation.

The union's formal complaint asks the City of Pittsburg to preserve all relevant recordings, interview witnesses, review the police response, and determine if the conduct warrants referral to law enforcement or civil rights authorities, citing California's civil rights acts. They are also requesting increased police presence and new protocols for future high-attendance hearings to ensure participant safety and prevent disruptions, emphasizing that while protest is a right, racial hatred and intimidation are not.