A lawsuit claims McDonald’s Latino scholarship program discriminates against other ethnic groups despite recent diversity initiative changes
This lawsuit was filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, led by Edward Blum, who’s known for opposing affirmative action. They say the scholarship program, which has been around since 1985, is discriminatory because it only helps students with Hispanic or Latino heritage.
McDonald’s has given out over $33 million in scholarships through this program, helping up to 30 students each year with up to $100,000. But Blum’s group argues that this limits opportunities for students from other backgrounds, including a white student from Arkansas who’s part of their group.
The lawsuit claims this violates a Civil Rights Act from 1866, which is all about preventing racial bias. They want a judge to stop McDonald’s from considering race when picking scholarship recipients. Blum hopes McDonald’s will pause the program so it can be open to all students in need, no matter their background.
McDonald’s is currently looking into the lawsuit and mentioned they’re reviewing their programs to make sure they fit their future goals. Just last week, they announced they were stepping back from some diversity initiatives, citing changes in the legal landscape.
This isn’t just McDonald’s; other companies like Walmart are also pulling back on diversity practices due to pressure from conservative groups. McDonald’s pointed to a recent Supreme Court ruling that limits the use of race in college admissions as part of their reasoning.
Blum’s group has been busy challenging various corporate diversity programs, including one from Southwest Airlines that offered free flights to Hispanic students. A judge recently decided not to dismiss that case, showing that this issue is heating up.
