Leigha Simonton, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
The Justice Department has filed a proposed statement of interest in a case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. This action underscores the federal law that ensures equal rights for all Americans to make and enforce contracts without regard to race.
The complaint involves the 2024 ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Travel Award Program, which provided flight vouchers from Southwest Airlines. The program stipulated eligibility for Hispanic college and graduate students only, which prompted the American Alliance for Equal Rights to file a lawsuit against Southwest. They argue that the program unlawfully discriminated against non-Hispanic students, contravening the federal statute 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The Justice Department's proposed statement of interest seeks to reinforce its commitment to eliminating racially exclusionary practices both in government and the private sector.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, “Every person in the United States should have equal and nondiscriminatory rights to make and enforce contracts, and race should never be a consideration. The Department of Justice is working to end discrimination using all of the tools at our disposal.”
Echoing this sentiment, Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham for the Northern District of Texas said, “Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our community. Our office will continue to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws to address racial discrimination affecting our residents.”
Those interested in learning more about the Civil Rights Division can visit the Department's website. Possible violations of federal civil rights laws can be reported online.
