More than 50 people protested Saturday outside the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place to promote a year-old boycott of DaimlerChrysler over allegations of racist practices.
“Our presence here today will make people think twice before buying from DaimlerChrysler,” said Bishop Larry Trotter, pastor of Sweet Holy Spirit Church of Chicago.
Among several demands, the coalition that organized the boycott called on DaimlerChrysler to seek resignations from executives accused of making racially insensitive remarks during meetings. The coalition in February 2003 called for the boycott after six black plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit, saying DaimlerChrysler Services, a financial arm of the company, denied them loans based on their race.
Recent depositions in another suit alleged that top officials at DaimlerChrysler’s Midwest financial arm often used slurs maligning African-American employees and customers.
Those depositions are part of the suit filed by Gerald Gorman, owner of Dodge of Midlothian, saying DaimlerChrysler Services routinely rejected credit applications from residents of mostly black areas, a practice known as redlining.
“We do not tolerate discrimination,” said Don Hubert, a Chicago attorney for DaimlerChrysler.
