A law firm has taken legal action on behalf of Minnesotans opposed to Critical Race Theory (CRT) who argue that they have become victims of bullying and retaliation for speaking out against what they say is a divisive and discriminatory philosophy.
CRT, a quasi-Marxist ideology that interprets society through the lens of a racial struggle, sees inherent racism in the foundations of Western societies, which it seeks to fundamentally transform to end this claimed racial oppression. An effort to incorporate CRT in American schools has been pushed by progressive politicians, activists, and major teachers’ unions, drawing backlash from parents and conservatives.
Doug Seaton, president of UMLC, said in a statement that, “our clients are bravely confronting CRT-inspired bullying, indoctrination and retaliation, which is not ‘training’ or persuasion."
"They have been insulted, lied about, threatened, demoted and fired, simply for refusing to submit to this ideology. But the U.S. Constitution, the federal Civil Rights laws, and their Minnesota counter-parts don’t permit this race-based discrimination, retaliation, compelled speech, and invasion of privacy,” Seaton added.
“I see a racist and divisive ideology of race essentialism taking over our nation and my institution,” Gustilo said at the press conference. “Further, there seems to be this growing intolerance for people with different opinions or ideas and it seems that this tribalistic ideology is fostering that kind of intolerance.”
In her EEOC complaint, Gustilo alleged that HHS "engaged in discriminatory and retaliatory behavior by demoting me on the basis of race due to my refusal, as a person of color, to subscribe to Critical Race Theory and the views of the Black Lives Matter movement and even admitting that such refusal served as the 'trigger' for my demotion."
HHS did not immediately return a request for comment.
Other UMLC clients made similar allegations, with a Native-American man claiming his employer forced him to retire early due to his opposition to CRT, and parents of a Lakeville area student alleging viewpoint discrimination at their daughter's school for refusing to allow "All Lives Matter" signs to be displayed while letting "Black Lives Matter" posters to be put up.