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BREAKING | Herb Washington to sue McDonald’s over unfair treatment of Black owners

By Mahoning Matters staff and Justin Dennis
Herb Washington wore a mask today while making the donations to the city of Youngstown at the Covelli Centre. (Bob Yosay/Mahoning Matters)
Herb Washington wore a mask today while making the donations to the city of Youngstown at the Covelli Centre. (Bob Yosay/Mahoning Matters)

WASHINGTON — Former star athlete and longtime McDonald's restaurant franchisee Herb Washington announced Friday he intends to sue McDonald's Corp. for what representatives say is an "effort to drive Black franchisees from its system."

Washington's attorneys on Friday announced a media conference Tuesday afternoon, the day attorneys intend to file the suit in Ohio's Northern District U.S. Court.

The suit will allege the fast-food corporation "targeted" Washington, pressuring him to sell his stores to white franchisees, according to the release.

"If one of the biggest and most powerful corporations in the United States gets away with silencing someone with the track record and success of Herb Washington, what Black business leader can feel safe in speaking out about the mistreatment of African-Americans in the business world?" reads the Friday release.

"What is particularly disturbing here is that McDonald's stores that have been built up by Black owners in challenging neighborhoods are being stripped away from those Black owners and handed to white owners … all as part of a cynical exercise in manipulating the restaurant chain's profitability numbers to give the phony appearance of parity amongst Black and white franchise owners."

At the height of his ownership, Washington ran 27 McDonald's restaurants in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He's been with the company for 40 years, according to the release.

Tuesday's media briefing will include comments from Washington and his attorneys. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus are also invited, a spokesperson said.

McDonald's Corp. did not respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.

This story was originally published February 12, 2021 at 3:17 PM with the headline "BREAKING | Herb Washington to sue McDonald’s over unfair treatment of Black owners."