PHILADELPHIA — A former worker with the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network alleges her supervisor sexually harassed her and other female co-workers.
Antoinette Harrison filed a complaint May 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Urban Affairs Coalition GPUAC, individually and doing business as Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network (PANN) and John Phillips alleging discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment and other claims.
Harrison, according to her complaint, began working for PANN as a Community Crisis Intervention Program advocate on Nov. 5, 2019. She alleges that Phillips hired her based on her appearance and in an effort to pursue a sexual relationship with her.
Harrison claims shortly after starting in her position, Phillips began to sexually harass her and made "sexually charged" comments to other women working in the office. Specifically, Harrision alleges Phillips commented on the size of female employees' breasts, grabbed her and tried to kiss her and claimed if she did not want to have sexual relations with him, that she could "get out of here."
She further alleges Phillips called her after hours and asked her to send pictures of her in a thong and that he wanted to see what she looks like without clothes on. She alleges she feared for her safety and began to face retaliation for rejecting Phillips' advances. According to her complaint, she was terminated two weeks after complaining about the sexual harassment and was issued a Notice of Right to Sue from the EEOC in March of 2022.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:22-CV-01994-MSG