Shareholder Lawsuit: An ‘Oracle’ of Tech’s Racial Reckoning to Come?

… white supremacist starts yelling disgusting racist remarks at us,” she wrote on Instagram.

Lofthouse commented on Chan’s post, then later deleted the message, which was derogatory. He since has issued an apology, which few people on the interwebs – along with Chan’s family – are taking as sincere.

“My behavior in the video is appalling,” Lofthouse told ABC7 in the Bay Area. “This was clearly a moment where I lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments. I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family. I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel.” He goes on to say, “I was taught to respect people of all races, and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day.”

Raymond Orosa, Chan’s uncle, said he believes Lofthouse was “just saving face” with the statement.

“I think he really meant what he said and what he did,” Orosa told ABC7. “I don’t believe his words because his actions speak louder than the words he’s saying.”

Lofthouse posted other inflammatory comments, now removed, on the Instagram page of a Chan and Orosa family supporter. He wrote, “Asian [expletive]” and “Come near me or my people and you are [expletive] dead.”

Solid8, established in 2017, is a cloud computing consultancy. Its website contains no information. On its LinkedIn page, the company bills itself as a firm that guides clients through the cloud vendor selection process for solutions including UCaaS, SD-WAN, security and more. Lofthouse has since removed his personal LinkedIn page, and Twitter blocked his account. He has a history of vandalism and a subsequent restraining order filed against him, as well as since-dismissed charges of domestic battery and destruction of telephone lines.

Lofthouse came to the United States in 2010 from the U.K.

Cisco Embroiled in Caste-Discrimination Suit

Finally, in the latest example of technology’s racial reckoning, the state of California is accusing Cisco Systems of discrimination.

Reuters reports that regulators say the vendor allowed two Indian-American managers to harass an employee because he hails from a lower caste than them.

The state filed a lawsuit last month against Cisco in federal court. Regulators have not named the employee who allegedly suffered the discrimination. The document does say he has served as a principal engineer at Cisco’s San Jose headquarters for almost five years. It also states “that he was born at the bottom of caste hierarchy as a Dalit, once called ‘untouchables,’” Reuters reported.

The lawsuit does call out two former Cisco engineering managers as defendants, and accuses them of internally enforcing caste hierarchy.

As Reuters noted, Cisco, as well as a number of other Silicon Valley employers, hires thousands of Indian immigrants. Reuters says most of the people working in the U.S.’ tech hotspot were born in high castes. India banned caste-based discrimination 65 years ago. Nonetheless, as Reuters pointed out, Dalits in India “still struggle with access to education and jobs.”

“Cisco is committed to an inclusive workplace for all,” a Cisco spokesperson told Channel Futures. “We have robust processes to report and investigate concerns raised by employees which were followed in this case dating back to 2016, and have determined we were fully in compliance with all laws as well as our own policies. Cisco will vigorously defend itself against the allegations made in this complaint.”

2020: The Year of Racial Reckoning in the United States?

Throughout the United States, 2020 has been fraught with tension. From COVID-19-spawned lockdowns that disproportionately affect minorities and divisive political stances with racial elements, to nationwide protests and riots stemming from the police murder of George Floyd, the country no longer appears able to avoid issues of race.

Now, also, the U.S. technology industry is coming face to face with …