DOJ Sues Minneapolis Schools for Racial Discrimination Against Employment Candidates

The current contract with the teachers’ union also stipulated layoff and employee benefit decisions by race and gender, the lawsuit said.

Twin City Teachers and their supporters march in Minneapolis on Feb. 12, 2022. Hannah Hobus/Pioneer Press via AP

A federal complaint filed on Dec. 9 alleges that one of the largest school districts in Minnesota illegally prioritized race and gender in hiring and personnel decisions.

The lawsuit from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said Minneapolis Public Schools, under an agreement with its teachers’ union, gave preference to candidates of “an underrepresented population” and specifically prioritized black men for certain employment benefits, terms, and conditions.