ST. LOUIS — Two former Missouri Central School Bus Company mechanics, Amin Mitchell and Jerry Ellis, said they felt forced to walk away from their jobs after a noose was placed in a bus garage back in February of 2024.
Amin Mitchell says he only worked at the bus company for less than a year when he saw the noose.
"We know from past history [our history] of what comes next after we see it noose, you know, they knocking at the doors, or it's a burning cross on your front lawn, or they hanging people," Mitchell said.
Mitchell and Ellis relied on each other for a support system since they were the only two Black mechanics at the bus company. During their time there, they say there was derogatory language used often, racially and sexually.
"I felt that I had something to offer Missouri Central, but they didn't see that. They didn't value that." Ellis said.
Mitchell says he was blindsided, "I was caught off guard. That was the hurtful thing," Mitchell said.
After mounting racial allegations, the two say the FBI is investigating this as a hate crime now. Back in March, the St. Louis City Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) launched it's own investigation into the company. They found the work environment to be "racially charged and dysfunctional".
5 On Your Side's Diamond Palmer has been following their story since then and has done multiple interviews with the mechanics.
Recent federal data from the U.S. Department of Justice says 119 hate crimes happened throughout the state of Missouri in 2022 based on people's race with a total of 199 hate crimes happening that year.
In fear of safety and further retaliation from the bus company, Mitchell never returned to the bus company. Instead he went to San Antonio, Texas, to pursue his boxing career and to make enough money to support his children.
For Ellis, he returned to the bus company after the St. Louis City NAACP investigation. Ellis says it got worse.
"When I went to the fridge to get my medicine, I found old cookies at the door of my refrigerator. My medicine was covered with ants," Ellis said.
Ellis now works for Metro Transit and he says there's more diversity, more professional opportunities and better pay. Six months later Mitchell is still jobless and believes some companies don't want to hire him because of the allegations.
"It's hard for me to trust the company, to give me a safe environment," Mitchell said.
Missouri Central Bus Company provided the following response:
"Missouri Central School Bus is committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all our employees. Following a thorough investigation, we found no evidence of systemic issues within our organization. However, we recognize the gravity of the situation and have taken substantial measures to reinforce our commitment to respect the dignity of every team member." -Spokesperson for Missouri Central School Bus.
Mitchell says he is suing the bus company for the racial discrimination and unsafe environment. He claims they retaliated after Mitchell and Ellis complained about the buses malfunctioning including faulty bus breaks and fire hazards.
5 On Your Side has reached out to the FBI in St. Louis for a statement, they said they cannot give a statement at this time.