Results for: Racial Discrimination

Three white undergraduates at the University of Oklahoma have filed a class action lawsuit against the school, alleging that it violates their equal protection rights by awarding financial aid based on race. The lawsuit claims that Black students receive more financial grants compared to other racial groups, even when controlling for factors such as family income.

The lawsuit cites several examples of university programs and events that are allegedly exclusionary on the basis of race, including a three-day “Welcome Black Weekend” orientation for incoming students. The plaintiffs argue that the university’s “race-based financial aid decision making” has resulted in them receiving fewer grants than they would have if the school did not discriminate on the basis of race.

The lawsuit comes after the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the use of race in admissions violated equal-protection rights, ending prior leniency toward such programs. The University of Oklahoma has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

Pamela Hill-Veal, a retired Black circuit court judge, filed a complaint against American Airlines alleging racial discrimination. On a flight from Chicago to Phoenix, a flight attendant allegedly accused her of slamming the restroom door and told her to use the restroom in coach. The flight attendant’s actions were followed by physical touching and threats of arrest upon landing. American Airlines has stated that it takes all claims of discrimination seriously and is investigating the matter.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Sheetz convenience stores, alleging that they have violated federal law by denying employment to a class of job applicants based on their race. The lawsuit claims that Sheetz screens job applicants for criminal records, a practice that the EEOC says disproportionately affects Black applicants. Several prominent Black conservative figures have criticized the lawsuit, calling it baseless and discriminatory. They argue that businesses have the right to screen potential employees for criminal history, especially in light of rising crime rates.

The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit alleging that Whole Foods illegally fired Savannah Kinzer, a vocal critic who refused to remove her “Black Lives Matter” facemask and complained about racism at the grocery chain. The court ruled that Kinzer’s firing may have deviated from Whole Foods’ disciplinary process, while dismissing similar claims by two other workers due to lack of evidence of unusual discipline.

A federal judge has invalidated a North Carolina law criminalizing voting for individuals with felony convictions, ruling that the law was enacted with discriminatory intent and continues to disproportionately impact Black voters. This decision comes amidst concerns about voter suppression tactics targeting Black Americans ahead of the 2024 election.

Thirty-five death penalty cases in Alameda County are under review after prosecutors were accused of intentionally excluding Black and Jewish people from juries. The bombshell investigation began with the case of Ernest Dykes, who was sentenced to death in 1995 for murdering a landlord’s grandson and shooting the victim’s mother. Old handwritten notes reveal a strategy to exclude certain demographic groups from the jury pool, potentially violating defendants’ rights to fair trials. The review could lead to re-sentencings or retrials for convicted murderers.