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EEOC Sues ATK For Alleged Race Discrimination

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing defense contractor Alliant Techsystems Inc. for allegedly refusing to hire an African-American job applicant because of her race.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit against the Eden Prairie-based company -- known as ATK -- Wednesday in federal court.

According to the lawsuit, Tyeastia Green applied for a job to provide technical or IT support for ATK executives. The EEOC says although a recruiter for ATK initially told Green she had gotten the job, the company hired a white man instead.

ATK says in a statement the company is "proud of our track record in equal opportunity employment" and "very confident in our position."

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the EEOC is seeking back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for Green.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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