Dodgers Sued Over Diversity Policies By Group Founded By Trump Insider

LOS ANGELES, CA — A conservative legal group founded by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing the Los Angeles Dodgers of engaging in unlawful discrimination under the guise of "diversity, equity, and inclusion."

America First Legal filed the complaint Monday against the Dodgers and the investment firm Guggenheim Partners, which is also led by Mark Walter, the majority owner of the Dodgers. It claims the organization is in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by allowing race, color, and sex to motivate employment decisions.

According to AFL, the Dodgers admit to "unlawfully considering immutable characteristics" on their website by committing to sponsoring programs geared to women and people of color, and embedding diversity, equity and inclusion strategies into every aspect of the organization.

"Furthermore, the Dodgers admit to incorporating DEI into the organization in quantifiable ways with identifiable goals to achieve `success,' that DEI is a core component of the team's mission," the group said.

AFL said the Dodgers also allow employees to join Business Resource Groups within the organization, providing employees "a forum to gather with other employees who hold common interests, identities and/or social issues." The group said some groups appear to provide benefits to employees based on their racial and ethnic identity and sex. For example:

• The Asian Professionals employee group aims "to empower our Asian employees";
• The Black Action Network group "foster(s) the growth, development, and well-being of the Dodger Black community that will ultimately result in opportunities for Black people on the field, in the stands, and in the front office, building upon our proud history of diversity";
• The SOMOS LA group appears to provide Latino employees with employment benefits. Its mission "is to ensure organizational representation and promote resources for professional development, business support, and community outreach that advances and empowers the Latinx community."

The Dodgers did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the complaint sent Wednesday morning.

On June 20, the Dodgers pledged $1 million in partnership with Los Angeles to support immigrant families facing economic hardship. The team had drawn criticism on social media for staying quiet amid ongoing federal immigration enforcement in the region.

City News Service