America First Legal Sues Chicago Over Alleged Discrimination

America First Legal (AFL) has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department (CPD), claiming the city employs a racially biased system in its hiring and law enforcement practices.

AFL attorney Alice Kass, in the lawsuit, states, “Chicago is using the guise of ‘racial equality’ to cover up its discriminatory practices and openly defies federal civil rights laws and executive orders from President Donald J. Trump.” She argues that principles of equity have been embedded within the city’s government, notably in the CPD, where race is a significant factor in decisions related to recruitment, hiring, and promotions.

The complaint refers to statements from the mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, which is responsible for implementing the city’s “Racial Equity Action Plan.” This plan aims to enhance equity, reduce racial disparities, and promote inclusivity within the CPD and its community interactions.

The CPD’s action plan, to be rolled out over three years from 2024 to 2026, includes evaluating the fairness of recruitment processes and assessing the impact of bias within the department’s culture.

The initiative is described as a way to create a workforce that mirrors the city’s demographics, emphasizing equity and inclusion. However, Kass contends that the CPD’s plan wrongly assumes that disparities are purely race-based.

Kass also points out that the Supreme Court has consistently dismissed the rationale used by the CPD, stating that statistical disparities do not necessarily justify race-specific actions and that intentional discrimination is prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

The lawsuit alleges that Chicago is violating both Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act by explicitly factoring race into its hiring and enforcement strategies, and it has called on the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to probe these claims.

This lawsuit comes shortly after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson initiated legal action against the Department of Justice, contesting requirements that cities must affirm grant funds won’t support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Johnson had previously filed similar litigation regarding a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, which mandates certification that cities do not support programs that promote DEI ideologies.