A legal organization co-founded by Stephen Miller, who was a key figure in the Trump administration’s immigration policies, has filed a civil rights complaint against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The complaint was submitted to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Monday and alleges that the Dodgers engaged in unlawful discrimination while promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives.
The lawsuit, reported by the Athletic, also targets the team’s ownership group, Guggenheim Partners, and its employee resource groups, including the Black Action Network and Women’s Opportunity Network. The Dodgers have not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
America First Legal, the group behind the complaint, claims that the Dodgers’ actions violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The group argues that the Dodgers’ efforts to support women and people of color, as well as their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, amount to unlawful discrimination.
The complaint comes just weeks after the Dodgers announced they would not allow federal immigration authorities to use their stadium parking lots for immigration raids. Following this decision, the team pledged $1 million to help families affected by such raids.
America First’s complaint highlights a section of the Dodgers’ website that outlines their mission to value diverse voices and experiences. It describes the team’s initiatives to recruit women and people of color, partner with community organizations, and support social justice causes.
The group also criticized Mark Walter, the majority owner of the Dodgers, referring to him as a "social-justice advocate." This complaint is part of a broader trend where America First has targeted various organizations for their diversity efforts, including major companies like IBM and Johnson & Johnson.
In response to the lawsuit, PICO California, a group advocating for immigrant rights, called the complaint a form of retaliation against the Dodgers for their support of diversity and their refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement. They emphasized that the Dodgers’ actions were commendable and that the complaint reflects a larger issue of power dynamics in society.
As this legal battle unfolds, it raises questions about the balance between promoting diversity and adhering to legal standards in employment practices. The Dodgers, known for their commitment to community engagement, now find themselves at the center of a contentious debate over inclusion and discrimination in the workplace.