PITTSBURGH — A black Pittsburgh-area transit worker who claims she was targeted when someone hung a black baby doll bearing a racial slur at work has been fired for allegedly participating in the incident.

Forty-eight-year-old Deborah Blocker maintains she was the victim at the Port Authority of Allegheny County garage in October 2007.

But a Pittsburgh newspaper says the termination letter she received June 9 says Blocker had "prior knowledge" of the incident and "participation" in it.

A transit spokesman confirmed Blocker doesn't work there anymore, but declined further comment because it's a personnel matter.

Union officials are helping Blocker challenge the firing. They say police didn't find enough evidence to charge anyone in the incident. Blocker says she was off that day.