White-Owned Businesses File Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Houston Over Racial Discrimination

Landscapers say city rules forcing them to send business to minority-owner contractors run afoul of the U.S. Constitution.

Mayor of Houston, Texas, Sylvester Turner speaks during a news conference at the 90th Winter Meeting of United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, on Jan. 19, 2022. Alex Wong/Getty Images

A white Houston couple in the landscaping business filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Texas city over its racially discriminatory contracting policy that forces them to send a portion of government contracts to minority-owned businesses.

Affirmative action programs and other programs that treat Americans differently on account of their race have come under increasing legal attacks in recent years.