McDonald’s is being sued over a scholarship program it offers specifically for Latino students, a move that comes after the fast food giant recently ditched some diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.
The American Alliance for Equal Rights — run by Edward Blum, who spearheaded the case against affirmative action in colleges that succeeded at the Supreme Court — alleges the company is discriminating against certain highschoolers with the scholarship program.
The lawsuit came a week after McDonald’s said it would drop diversity targets it had for employees.
“But when McDonald’s expressed this new commitment to treat ‘everyone’ fairly, it didn’t mean everyone. Even after its civil-rights audit, McDonald’s has decided to continue a program that blatantly discriminates against high-schoolers based on their ethnicity,” the lawsuit reads.
The scholarship program gives $100,000 to 30 individuals, but only if at least one parent has Hispanic or Latino heritage.
The American Alliance for Equal Rights is asking for a preliminary injunction, as the deadline for this year’s award is next month.
“We are in the process of reviewing the complaint and will respond to it accordingly. However, McDonald’s announced its evolution on our inclusion work last week, and part of that process will be reviewing programs, in partnership with our franchisees as applicable, to ensure these programs align with our vision moving forward,” the company said in a statement.
McDonald’s last week said it was rolling back goals to have more diversity in senior leadership positions due to the “shifting legal landscape.”
The fast food chain is joining Meta and other companies who are ditching DEI efforts as the Trump administration, who has vowed to fight against these programs, is about to take office.
