Former Blackwell aide files religious discrimination complaint

    A former aide to Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell has filed a federal complaint alleging she experienced religious discrimination while working for the councilwoman.

    According to the Courthouse News Service, Tyeisha Boulware, a Jehovah’s Witness, says during her three years with Blackwell, she was discriminated against for not wanting to wear a Christmas sweater to a holiday party, amd cites Blackwell as saying she doesn’t understand the employee’s religion.

    Boulware was laid off in 2010 and is seeking lost wages and punitive damages from the city and City Council.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal