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McDonald’s sued over Latino education program

McDonald’s has been sued over a program that offers scholarships to Latino students, a move that comes days after the fast-food giant dropped some of its scholarships. diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.

The American Alliance for Equal Rights, which challenges preferences and discrimination based on race, alleges that McDonald’s HACER program discriminates against certain high school students.

Last week, McDonald’s said it would revise some of its DEI policies, which critics have deemed “outrageous.”

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Fort Worth area serving as an autopilot. (CREDIT: McDonald’s Company / Fox News)

“When companies say they’re going to replace controversial and divisive programs with neutral ones, it doesn’t always mean the company has made significant changes,” AAER President Edward Blum said in a statement. “Corporate press releases announcing changes in policies are often more than just public relations.”

“It is surprising that after what McDonald’s described as a civil rights audit of its programs and policies, only the Spanish HACER scholarship was not flagged as violating our country’s human rights laws,” he added.

The changes at McDonald’s include scrapping the “eager representation policy,” ending the DEI promise to its suppliers, changing the name of its diversity group to the Global Investment Group and ending external surveys.

“But when McDonald’s expressed this new commitment to treating ‘everyone’ fairly, it didn’t mean everyone. Even after its civil rights investigation, McDonald’s decided to continue a program that blatantly discriminates against high school students based on their race,” McDonald’s said. the case says.

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McDonald’s said began discussing changes months ago, admitting it was considering the legal situation after the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling against affirmative action and similar moves by other companies.

FOX Business reached out to AAER and McDonald’s. Under the program, McDonald’s awards $100,000 to 30 students who have at least one parent of Hispanic or Latino heritage.

“We are in the process of reviewing the complaint and we will respond accordingly. However, McDonald’s announced its evolution in our installation work last week, and part of that plan will be reviewing the plans, in collaboration with our management as appropriate, to ensure that these plans are consistent with our vision moving forward,” the company said in a statement to Fox. News Digital.

The case stems from an Arkansas high school girl seeking college scholarships, according to the lawsuit.

“McDonald’s offers unusually large scholarships (up to $100,000) through a program called HACER. The catch? McDonald’s only gives them to Hispanics,” the lawsuit says. “As a non-Hispanic white girl, an Arkansan cannot apply. Despite her financial need. Despite her inability to choose or control her racial heritage.”

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AAER is asking the judge to issue a temporary restraining order before the company is announced with this year’s award in February.

Breck Dumas of FOX Business contributed to this report.


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