(The Guardian) The US Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into hiring practices at the city of Chicago, according to a letter sent to the Chicago mayor’s office.
The probe’s announcement comes after Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at a Chicago church on Sunday to outline his vision for the remainder of his term. During the speech, Johnson praised the number of Black people in top positions in his administration.
The speech garnered immediate attention on social media, including calls from conservatives and others to investigate. The letter outlines what the Trump administration and some MAGA activists have identified as race-based hiring that they say discriminates against white candidates.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is looking into whether the city has habitually violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race. “Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above,” the letter signed by assistant attorney general for Harmeet K Dhillon said. “If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions.”
The probe’s announcement comes after Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at a Chicago church on Sunday to outline his vision for the remainder of his term. During the speech, Johnson praised the number of Black people in top positions in his administration.
The speech garnered immediate attention on social media, including calls from conservatives and others to investigate. The letter outlines what the Trump administration and some MAGA activists have identified as race-based hiring that they say discriminates against white candidates.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is looking into whether the city has habitually violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race. “Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above,” the letter signed by assistant attorney general for Harmeet K Dhillon said. “If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions.”
