Tyson Foods faces a pair of lawsuits, filed on behalf of two men who allege racial discrimination and age discrimination against a Black employee at the company’s plant in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
Alvin Clark, who is Black, and Matthew Reeves, who is white, each claim Clark was harassed because of his race, while Reeves was harassed because he was friends with Clark and defended him. Suits on behalf of both men were filed in a federal court in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 16.
The two men began employment at the Tyson plant within one month of each other in 2024, and both were terminated on March 26, 2025, according to court documents. The plant opened in late 2023.
According to the lawsuit, Clark, 62, a Level 8 maintenance mechanic, was denied the opportunity to move into a new job at the plant – both because of his age and his race. He was allegedly told the plant’s management was “looking for someone young to do that.” He was also allegedly told that management did not want a (racial slur) to do that job.
Clark also allegedly was subjected to threats of being stabbed, castrated and killed by white people in positions at the plant that outranked him. Clark and Reeves also alleged that a noose was hung within the plant, and that one person in a supervisory position pulled a gun on them and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed.
According to the lawsuit, Clark spent some nights at a hotel because he feared people from the plant would show up at his home with the intent of harming him.
Reeves alleged he was subjected to mistreatment because of his friendship with Clark and that he told those who harassed Clark to stop it. Reeves was allegedly told he should disassociate with Clark because of their racial differences, and that plant supervisors called him a (slur)-lover.
Reeves claimed that he cited biblical scripture to convince the supervisors that their behavior was wrong, but he was mocked when he did that. In response to Reeves’ defense of Clark, threats were made by plant colleagues that they would have Reeves and his wife raped.
Both men claim their terminations were retaliatory.
When contacted to comment about the lawsuit, Tyson Foods issued the following statement: “Tyson Foods takes any allegation involving team member safety seriously. We have zero tolerance for racism, harassment or retaliation in our workplace and are committed to fostering a respectful environment for our team members.”
Clark is seeking a broad range of damages and relief, including reinstatement to his position (or front pay in lieu of reinstatement), compensatory damages for lost wages, benefits, and emotional pain and suffering, punitive and liquidated damages, attorneys' fees and costs, and both pre- and post-judgment interest.
Reeves is seeking a similar range of relief, including equitable and injunctive relief, compensatory damages for emotional pain and suffering, back pay and benefits, reinstatement or front pay and benefits, punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs, and post-judgment interest.
