Anti-Racist Action - Gainesville, TX

Holly Tatum worked as a care provider at Wheeler House, an elderly residential facility in Gainesville, TX owned by the Enlivant Corporation for about a year when she began noticing patterns of racial harassment and discrimination...

In early June 2020, Holly first reported these issues to facility supervisors but by spring 2021, Holly's work environment grew increasingly hostile. As a result, on April 15, 2021, Holly was forced to once again speak out about her direct supervisor's discriminatory behavior, which she reported again to both the facility director and an Enlivant Regional Manager. Holly never received a response to these concerns. 

On April 18, 2021, three days after she reported her supervisor, who also happens to be the live-in-girlfriend of the Gainesville Police Chief, Holly was informed via a group text from the Facility Director and her former supervisor (both named in Holly's discrimination complaint) that she was being placed on “administrative leave” “pending an investigation” sparked by “recent facebook messages” reported to the company claiming that Holly had abused and mistreated a patient. When Holly requested to see these messages, she was told that the company was not “obligated” to provide her with that information. More than a month later and these supposed abuses have still not been reported to the State regulatory board as would be required if Wheeler supervisors truly believed a resident was abused. 

On April 29, 2021, Holly contacted the EEOC, as she had already filed a racial discrimination complaint with the agency, at which time they launched an official investigation into her firing. A copy of her formal complaint accepted by the EEOC is available for reference HERE. The very next day on April 30, 2021 at approximately 5pm, two investigators from the Gainesville Police Department arrived unexpectedly at Holly's residence and explained that a (white) employee from Wheeler Place had received threatening Facebook messages from Holly. A Detective allowed her to view screenshots of these Facebook messages on his phone, which showed an account using her name and a profile photo she had previously used  on her legitimate account. While Holly reviewed these messages, she allowed the other investigator to look through her phone and Facebook messaging app. At this point, the Detective stated that to his knowledge, the Facebook account which sent the messages had been deleted but that he would try and reach Facebook to retrieve the phone it was sent from. He also stated that two “African Americans boys” driving a white Cadillac had vandalized her former co-worker's car after the messages were sent. Holly insisted her lack of knowledge relating to these incidents. Before the Detectives left her home, the last thing they told her was to cease any contact with persons from Wheeler Place...

Two weeks later, on May 16, 2021, Holly noticed one of the Detectives driving by her home multiple times. The next day on May 17, 2021, this same detective arrived again unexpectedly on Holly's porch to inquire about a black Cadillac, which he claimed Holly's sister and mom were in when he first visited her home on April 30, 2021. He told Holly that her former co-worker reported that her car was vandalized by an African America girl in a black Cadillac. Holly informed the Detective that he was mistaken, that no one in her family drove a Cadillac of any color and she reminded him that during his previous visit he told her it was a supposed white Cadillac with two males. Holly stated once again stated that neither she nor her family had any involvement with the woman filing these complaints and she asked for an update regarding his investigation into the person impersonating her on Facebook. The Detective then falsely claimed that Facebook would not respond to his inquiry “due to it not being a felony just a misdemeanor.” (Facebook complies with all subpoenas submitted by law enforcement when proper procedures are followed, regardless of the level of crime being investigated.) 

At this point, Holly began to suspect that local authorities were working with her former employer to harass and silence her. She also became increasingly worried about the Facebook account impersonating her, sending out threatening messages and false accusations which had now cost her her job and led to false police reports made against her. 

On May 19, 2021, a community advocate accompanied Holly to the Gainesville Police Department so she could file her own police report listing her as the victim of fraud, impersonation, harassment, and cyber bullying. Yet, when they arrived in the lobby of the Gainesville Police Department, the front desk person did not call an on duty patrol officer to take her report, but instead they were met by the same detective who spent nearly 30 minutes refusing to file a report listing Holly as a victim of fraud and harassment. Though, during these conversations the detective stated more than once that he did not believe Holly was the person behind the messages sent. It was only after intense persistence by the community advocate that Holly be allowed to speak with Young’s supervisor and threats of getting the NAACP involved that she was finally allowed to file a report. An audio recording of this interaction is linked HERE. 

While at the police station, the community advocate was also able to secure print outs detailing FOUR separate case numbers for which the detective stated Holly is listed as a potential suspect! Prior to receiving these reports, Holly was unaware that these four separate cases and false claims against her existed. The case numbers and details of these reports are linked below:

Case No. 2100008621, Filed 4/27/2021 12:28 PM, Criminal Mischief

Case No. 2100008651, Filed 4/27/2021 8:14 PM, Threatening Facebook Message

Case No. 2100008667, Filed 4/27/2021 11:01 PM, Assault Cause Bodily Injury

Case No. 2100008689, Filed 4/28/2021 10:34 AM, Terroristic Threat

 While the first three reports were supposedly filed by Holly's former co-worker (with whom she never had any communications as they worked different shifts), it is important to note that the fourth report filed the day after the EEOC contacted Wheeler Place was made by the head Chef of the facility who also happens to be the sister-in-law of the Chief of Police! 

THIS is how systemic racism thrives in rural Texas! These individuals have plotted together to smear the name of a good woman and hard working mother to deflect from their own racist discriminatory actions. They have even gone so far as to use their connections with the corrupt police chief so as to intimidate and harass Holly via false allegations and police reports! 

We are NOT going to allow them to succeed! 

We WILL expose the truth!

Thus far, we have hired a private investigator to look into the cirumstances surrounding the fraudulent facebook account and messages, as well as the police reports filed. We are also getting a surveillance and security system installed at Holly's residence so as to document any further harassment by authorities and to ensure the safey of her family in light of the rumors being spread in this predominately white small town known for its racism. This security system will also require that highspeed internet be installed at her home residence, an expensive feat in this rural area. Any additional funds left over will be used to help support Holly's family with expenses as she looks for new employment. 

The collection of articles linked below and the youtube videos posted to this campaign offer prime examples of the ways in which racism thrives in Gainesville, TX, particularly within its local police department. 

Living Blue in TX, "Armed White Militia Confronted a Peaceful Protest in Gainesville" 

Living Blue in TX, "Gainesville Fire Department Lieutenant Pilcher Openly Uses N-Word"

Living Blue in TX, "Local faces up to 10 years in prison for GoFundMe donation in Police Chief’s name in connection with PRO Gainesville"

Living Blue in TX, "Gainesville Police Issue Arrest Warrants and Hotline, Target Non-Violent Protestors for Walking in Streets"

Living Blue in TX, "How Hate Has Bubbled To The Surface In This Small Texas Town"