Victory for Rastafarian Soldier as Army Loses Racism Lawsuit

A Rastafarian guardsman in the British Army has won a case of race discrimination and harassment against the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Dwight Pile-Grey claims that his 16-year Army career was cut short after a confrontation with a white guard who doubted his identity as a soldier. When Pile-Grey challenged the soldier, he was accused of "playing the race card". The employment tribunal upheld his case. The MoD has stated that it does not tolerate any form of abuse, bullying, or discrimination. Pile-Grey believes his situation exemplifies the Army's reluctance to address racism within its ranks. As one of the first Rastafarian guardsmen, Pile-Grey faced questions and derogatory remarks about his appearance, and witnessed racially offensive language being used in his presence. Despite these challenges, he enjoyed his work and rose to the rank of lance sergeant. However, a dispute in July 2021 led to him being accused of insubordination and facing disciplinary action. Feeling that the Army had disregarded his well-being, Pile-Grey filed a service complaint, which was rejected, leading him to take his case to the employment tribunal. The MoD refused to comment on the specific case but reiterated its commitment to combatting abuse and discrimination within the armed forces. Pile-Grey suggests that racism is pervasive among lower-ranking soldiers, whereas higher-ranking officers are less likely to allow it in their presence. Emma Norton, from the Centre for Military Justice, highlights the Army's inadequate response to Pile-Grey's concerns and its failure to support him.