Construction at the expanding Meta data center in Sarpy County is at a standstill because of racist graffiti found on site twice in the past week.The contractor, Turner Construction Company, is suspending construction to send a message that racism won’t be tolerated. A spokesperson for Meta said they want to find who’s behind it because it’s a challenge facing the industry.”Meta has zero tolerance for any racist acts. While this is a challenge facing the entire industry, we’re working with our general contractors to implement measures that will help prevent them at any of our construction sites. At the Sarpy County site, we are working closely with Turner Construction and trade leaders to identify the perpetrator(s) of these acts,” Meta said in a written statement to KETV NewsWatch 7.Similar incidents occurred at another Meta data center under construction in Utah late last year, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. Two incidents involved racist graffiti written on a portable bathroom, but are unsolved. The third incident involved a noose found at the Utah site, which lead to a contract worker’s termination.Law enforcement from Papillion, Sarpy County and the FBI said they have not been contacted about any incidents at the local construction site.KETV NewsWatch 7 has seen no construction or workers this week at the site, located near Highway 50 and Capehart Road.”We suspended work to send a message about how serious we take this. We are collaborating with our client and trade partners to implement a plan to ensure that every person on site feels that they are welcomed and are treated with respect and dignity,” Turner Construction Company said in a statement to KETV NewsWatch 7.Turner Construction Company hasn’t said when construction will start again.Meta said they have a plan that includes: Developing a playbook to respond to these instances, launching a diversity and inclusion campaign on all U.S. data center construction sites, as well as requiring all contractors to include the responsible business alliance code of conduct in the master construction agreement.Meta also said it will implement anonymous reporting channels at all construction sites.The Sarpy County chairman Don Kelley said he supports Meta’s efforts to eliminate racist activity.Meta recently announced that it was adding a ninth building at that Papillion complex. It’s scheduled to be done by the end of 2024.
Construction at the expanding Meta data center in Sarpy County is at a standstill because of racist graffiti found on site twice in the past week.
The contractor, Turner Construction Company, is suspending construction to send a message that racism won’t be tolerated.
A spokesperson for Meta said they want to find who’s behind it because it’s a challenge facing the industry.
“Meta has zero tolerance for any racist acts. While this is a challenge facing the entire industry, we’re working with our general contractors to implement measures that will help prevent them at any of our construction sites. At the Sarpy County site, we are working closely with Turner Construction and trade leaders to identify the perpetrator(s) of these acts,” Meta said in a written statement to KETV NewsWatch 7.
Similar incidents occurred at another Meta data center under construction in Utah late last year, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. Two incidents involved racist graffiti written on a portable bathroom, but are unsolved. The third incident involved a noose found at the Utah site, which lead to a contract worker’s termination.
Law enforcement from Papillion, Sarpy County and the FBI said they have not been contacted about any incidents at the local construction site.
KETV NewsWatch 7 has seen no construction or workers this week at the site, located near Highway 50 and Capehart Road.
“We suspended work to send a message about how serious we take this. We are collaborating with our client and trade partners to implement a plan to ensure that every person on site feels that they are welcomed and are treated with respect and dignity,” Turner Construction Company said in a statement to KETV NewsWatch 7.
Turner Construction Company hasn’t said when construction will start again.
Meta said they have a plan that includes: Developing a playbook to respond to these instances, launching a diversity and inclusion campaign on all U.S. data center construction sites, as well as requiring all contractors to include the responsible business alliance code of conduct in the master construction agreement.
Meta also said it will implement anonymous reporting channels at all construction sites.
The Sarpy County chairman Don Kelley said he supports Meta’s efforts to eliminate racist activity.
Meta recently announced that it was adding a ninth building at that Papillion complex. It’s scheduled to be done by the end of 2024.
