A friend of mine, who is black, was just given a 2 day w/o pay suspension from work. Ready for it?...For raising his voice in anger after being called a nigger. WTF.

wow.

I assume it was a customer that spewed the epithet?

It was a coworker.

Uh...WHAT!!!

A coworker, your friend probably has a case against the business, he should contact a lawyer. Do you know how/if the coworker was disciplined?

In order to fight back against an employer you have to first find another job. He can't afford to lose his job right now.
The name caller was fired since this was his second time.

Once he sues he cannot be fired it would make things 1000 times worse for his employer.

I'll talk to him and see if he wants to pursue it.

Assuming he wasn't violent with the guy, he's got a decent case.

No threats or physical contact. He raised his voice saying "what did you say" and was still "yelling" when he told the manager to take care of his employee. They sent them both home to calm down and then called to tell him he was suspended and the other guy was fired.

Make sure he is careful in anything he pursues. From the managements perspective there was an issue with employee #1 (the name calling) and they took care of it by firing him. They also have another issue with employee #2 yelling at management. To an outsider looking in it probably comes off as justifiable. The whole, "if you have a problem, don't take it into your hands, let us deal with it" type of thing. The fact that they did indeed take care of the problem would tend to back them up if it came to a jury award situation.

Just be cautious.

I think he has a hostile work environment complaint and possibly a racial bias complaint. If it happened once already and the guy wasn't fired (from what I understand) and his only offense was raising his voice (without threats of or use of violence) a suspension under the circumstances isn't gonna place with a jury. My take on it. Who knows I'm not lawyer

possibly. I'm just trying to be cautious. Introducing race into it does change the rules somewhat and I've never had to deal with that personally so I could be wrong.

I don't know the industry in question, but you cannot possibly want to see Al Sharpton outside your place and that's where this could head if the guy wants it to. that's all I'm saying.

I agree with all of the opinions expressed, consulting with an expert seems a reasonable but cautious thing to do and then make an informed decision on what if any steps to take beyond that.

I'm not sure what he would gain. His two days pay perhaps. He will talk to a lawyer and see. His wife is making him.

It is a sheet metal manufacturing co. that supplies Navy ships.
Thanks for the input all.

What town? Want me to see if I can drum up a contact in local news?

I'd have to check with him on that AC. the co. is in auburn wa so all the news is Seattle. 15 miles away.