Legal Battle Over Evanston's Reparations Program: DOJ Joins Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination
The U.S. Department of Justice recently filed a motion to join a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Evanston's reparations program, claiming it is discriminatory and violates the 14th Amendment. The lawsuit, Flinn V. City of Evanston, was initially filed by the legal action group Judicial Watch, alleging that the program's race-based eligibility requirement goes against the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause and the Fair Housing Act. The city's spokesperson stated that they maintain their position on the program's legality but acknowledged the DOJ's filing and refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon criticized the city's program for distributing millions of dollars in cash and housing benefits based on race, labeling it as race discrimination and illegal. U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros emphasized that government actions classifying citizens by race are unconstitutional, as the Constitution mandates treating citizens as individuals, not members of a racial class. The lawsuit against the program was allowed to proceed in federal court after facing challenges for about two years.
FirstRepair, a nonprofit organization involved in distributing reparations funds, expressed disappointment at the lawsuit's escalation but noted that it was not unexpected. The organization reiterated its support for the city's efforts to address the impacts of past discriminatory zoning and housing policies in Evanston. The lawsuit represents a broader challenge to the movement for reparative justice, according to FirstRepair.