Latest news with #AmericaFirstLegal
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Cracker Barrel faces new 'woke' backlash over DEI policies
Backlash to corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies has led to several major companies downplaying their DEI programs in got the ball rolling in January 2025 as it ended some of its DEI practices and renamed its diversity team as "Global Inclusion team."The company also faced a lawsuit filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, objecting to McDonald's and International Scholarship & Tuition Services' HACER National Scholarship Program and asking that its scholarship recipients be chosen on their "own merits and essential qualities," since it believes the scholarship unlawfully discriminates against students from other races and ethnicities. Related: Popular pizza and beer chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Several companies have followed McDonald's lead and renamed or eliminated DEI programs and removed references to DEI in their annual reports, including Amazon, PBS, Pepsi, Citigroup, BlackRock, Paramount, UnitedHealth Group, Constellation Brands, and Gannett, Forbes reported. And now, popular dining chain Cracker Barrel is facing an attack on its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies from legal advocacy group America First Legal, a conservative nonprofit co-founded by White House aide Stephen Miller. America First Legal requested that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmenti investigate Cracker Barrel for alleged potential violations of federal and state civil rights laws stemming from its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, according to a July 21 AFL statement. Related: Popular pizza dining chain franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcy The restaurant chain has faced a customer backlash in the past, as in August 2022, when it added a plant-based-sausage option to its menu. It did not take traditional sausages off its menu; it only added a meat-free choice, and that angered some of its customer base, which called for boycotts. Cracker Barrel launched its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in June 2021, which included an effort to "better identify, recruit and advance strong, racially and ethnically diverse talent," WMAL Radio reported. The restaurant chain also asserted its support for the NAACP and Urban League, as well as doing more to recognize the LGBTQ+ community, in its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. The company in 2024 shifted its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to Culture and Inclusion, focusing on "Culture," "Workforce," and "Business." Culture: to educate, advocate, and communicate to create an inclusive, engaging, culture, and work Force: to attract, select, develop, and retain high-performing talent with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and Build and nurture diverse partnerships in the communities where we live and work, and ensure we have diverse representation in our advertising. Cracker Barrel's Culture and Inclusion Strategy is a 180-degree turn from the company's policies in early 1991, when the company adopted a policy to stop hiring LGBTQ people and terminate those who were already employed by the restaurant chain, according to Forbes. The company's Board of Directors voted to end discrimination against gay employees in 2002. More food and restaurants: Major iconic food brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular Dairy Queen rival franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcyIconic pizza chain's franchisees close multiple restaurants American First Legal objected to Cracker Barrel's Business Resource Group benefits that "appear to be restricted to specific identity groups," according to its statement. It also objected to the company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considering "diversity of age, gender, race, and ethnic background" when evaluating potential nominees for the company's Board of Directors. "Treating employees differently because of their race or sex is not only wrong, it is illegal and violates numerous federal and state civil rights laws. AFL will continue to fight back against unlawful discrimination in all its forms," American First Legal said in its statement. The organization submitted a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to investigate Cracker Barrel's employment practices, which they allege "appear to discriminate against employees or prospective employees, solely because of their skin color or sex." American First Legal also filed a complaint with the Tennessee attorney general, as well as the Cracker Barrel Board of Trustees. Cracker Barrel was not immediately available for comment. McDonald's: Renamed diversity team as "Global Inclusion team." Amazon: Removed references to inclusion and diversity hiring from its annual Closed its diversity, equity, and inclusion Removed representation goals from Renamed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Talent Management team as Talent Management and Removed references to DEI in its annual No longer uses diversity tied to race and gender in Group: Removed diversity, equity, and inclusion webpages and adopted terms like "culture of belonging."Constellation Brands: Renamed DEI team as Inclusive Removes diversity references from its website. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cracker Barrel targeted by Trump-aligned legal group over alleged DEI policies
You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletter. America First Legal — a conservative legal entity led by President Donald Trump's senior adviser, Stephen Miller — issued a statement calling for federal and state government investigation into Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. The nonprofit legal group alleges that the company's 'unlawful and discriminatory employment practices' run afoul of Trump's January executive order banning public and private sector diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and programs. Like many companies in the wake of the backlash against diversity policies, which either dismantled their DEI divisions or rebranded them, Cracker Barrel renamed its Diversity and Inclusion website to Culture and Inclusion in 2024, but America First Legal claims the company still has the same policies in place. For example, in Cracker Barrel's Environmental, Social, and Governance report last year, the company tracked workplace demographics like race and gender. Cracker Barrel also maintains business resource groups categorized race and gender, which America First Legal claims is 'illegal discrimination' by a different name. Cracker Barrel has a historic reputation as a socially conservative brand with Southern-American roots. In the early 1990s, LGBT activists launched a series of protests against Cracker Barrel for allegedly firing several gay employees. Since then, the company has evolved away from its controversial roots. Less than two decades later, Cracker Barrel made headlines for barring an anti-gay Tennessee pastor from holding an event at one of the brand's restaurants. Since then, the company has also celebrated Pride Month and supported diverse and inclusive values in other ways. America First Legal filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Tennessee attorney general, and the Cracker Barrel board regarding the challenges against the company's inclusion policies. Recently, the legal group has filed DEI-related federal complaints or issued warnings against several brands and entities including Johnson & Johnson, IBM, The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, and Cornell University. Cracker Barrel did not comment by press time on the possible legal investigation. Contact Joanna at
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Education Dept. says gender policies in five Virginia districts violate the law
The U.S. Department of Education said Friday that policies in five Northern Virginia school districts allowing transgender students to use bathrooms and other facilities match their gender identity violate federal law, and urged the districts to rescind the policies or risk punishment. The agency launched investigations into the Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William school districts in February after the conservative group America First Legal — founded by top Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller — filed a complaint alleging that the districts were violating Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination in schools. The district policies, the complaint alleged, provided 'greater rights to students whose 'gender identity' does not match their biological sex than it does to students whose 'gender identity' matches their biological sex.'
The Hill
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration says transgender policies at five Northern Virginia school districts violate Title IX
The Department of Education announced on Friday the conclusion of investigations into five Northern Virginia school districts, finding district policies accommodating transgender students violate federal law. The department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened probes into the Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William County school districts in February following requests to do so from America First Legal, a conservative organization founded by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. In letters to OCR, the group alleged that each school district had continued enforcing policies meant to support transgender students in violation of Title IX, the federal civil rights law against sex discrimination in schools. The policies vary by school district, but each allows trans students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity and requires their teachers and peers to address them by their chosen name and pronouns. America First Legal said the policies provide 'greater rights to students whose 'gender identity' does not match their biological sex than it does to students whose 'gender identity' matches their biological sex.' In a news release on Friday, OCR said its investigations had determined the school districts' policies indeed violate Title IX, which the Trump administration has said broadly prohibits transgender girls from using girls' facilities and participating on girls' school sports teams. OCR said it sent resolution agreements to each of the districts, which have until Aug. 4 to sign them or risk 'imminent enforcement action,' including referral to the Department of Justice. 'Although this type of behavior was tolerated by the previous Administration, it's time for Northern Virginia's experiment with radical gender ideology and unlawful discrimination to come to an end,' said Craig Trainor, the Education Department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. 'OCR's investigation definitively shows that these five Virginia school districts have been trampling on the rights of students in the service of an extreme political ideology.' Prince William County Public Schools, in a statement posted on the district's website, said it would 'conduct a thorough review' of OCR's proposal but remains 'firmly committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for all students and staff.' 'Our policies and practices are guided by our core values and by applicable federal and state laws. We continue to uphold our longstanding nondiscrimination policy, which prohibits discrimination in employment and in the provision of educational programs, services, and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics,' the district said. 'PWCS will continue to work collaboratively with OCR and all stakeholders to ensure compliance with Title IX and to support the well-being and dignity of every student.' Spokespeople for Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Loudoun County Public Schools did not immediately return The Hill's requests for comment. In a statement, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) applauded OCR's findings. 'Commonsense is back, with biological boys and girls in their own locker rooms and bathrooms, and boys out of girls sports,' he said. OCR's proposed resolution agreements would require each of the five districts to rescind policies that allow transgender students to access bathrooms and changing rooms that match their gender identity, rather than their sex at birth, and adopt 'biology-based' definitions of the words 'male' and 'female' in policies and practices related to Title IX. Each district must also issue a memo 'explaining that any future policies related to access to intimate facilities must be consistent with Title IX by separating students strictly on the basis of sex, and that Title IX ensures women's equal opportunity in any education program or activity including athletic programs,' according to the proposal. While Virginia lacks a state law barring transgender student-athletes from competing on teams that match their gender identity, the Virginia High School League, which regulates high school sports in the state, announced in February that it would limit participation on girls' teams to students assigned female at birth to comply with President Trump's executive order on transgender athletes, reversing a near-decade-old policy. Friday's OCR announcement comes as the Education Department's civil rights arm initiated a separate Title IX investigation into Oregon's Department of Education over allegations that its policies allow transgender student-athletes to compete according to their gender identity, in violation of Trump's order and the administration's interpretation of federal law. OCR said it opened the investigation based on a complaint it received from the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit founded by Trump's Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, and Education Secretary, Linda McMahon. Oregon's state anti-discrimination law holds that schools 'are prohibited from excluding gender expansive students from participating in school athletics and activities' that best align with their gender identity.
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Pro-Trump group says Cracker Barrel's DEI programs violate federal, state civil rights laws
Conservative pro-Trump law group America First Legal (AFL) filed complaints Monday with the Tennessee Attorney General and the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC), alleging Cracker Barrel is maintaining discriminatory employment practices stemming from its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. The complaints point to public documents, internal reports, and Cracker Barrel's own language to allege the company maintains illegal DEI frameworks, such as race- and gender-conscious hiring, leadership and promotion pipelines, which provide benefits to employees on the basis of protected characteristics. AFL also slammed Cracker Barrel for rebranding its dedicated DEI website to 'Culture and Belonging,' arguing that the name change did not halt Cracker Barrel from using 'diversity' as a proxy for race or sex. Advertisement 'Americans are fed up with major American corporations serving up DEI as if it is entirely okay,' said AFL legal counsel, Will Scolinos. 'Treating people differently because of the color of their skin or their sex is not only wrong, it is illegal. AFL has fought DEI since the Biden Administration spent four years celebrating and encouraging its wholesale implementation across the country. Now, companies are retreating from the term 'DEI' but retaining their discriminatory policies. Cracker Barrel and other American corporations must take discrimination by any name off the menu once and for all.' 4 The complaints point to public documents, internal reports, and Cracker Barrel's own language to allege the company maintains illegal DEI frameworks. Christopher Sadowski AFL's complaint points to Cracker Barrel's Business Resource Groups (BRGs) as one example of alleged discrimination, outlined in public Securities and Exchange Commission documents, Cracker Barrel's website and other places. According to AFL, these groups offer employment benefits only available to employees belonging to certain races or sexes. Advertisement The 'Be Bold' BRG helps 'cultivate and develop Black Leaders within the Cracker Barrel organization utilizing allyship, mentorship, and education to create a path to continued excellence,' Cracker Barrel's website states. Meanwhile, the HOLA BRG 'promote[s] Hispanic and Latino culture through hiring, developing, and retaining talent within Cracker Barrel.' Other BRGs revolve around LGBT folks, 'neurodiversity,' and women's issues, among others. 4 According to AFL, these groups offer employment benefits only available to employees belonging to certain races or sexes. AP Another part of Cracker Barrel's alleged promotion of discriminatory DEI practices cited by AFL includes the company's focus on 'attract[ing], develop[ing] and retain[ing] high performing talent with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives,' which is laid out on Cracker Barrel's 'Culture, Belonging and Inclusion' website underneath the heading 'STRATEGY TURNS INTO ACTION.' This focus on promoting and hiring based on 'diverse' characteristics can be seen in action via Cracker Barrel's categorization in internal company reports of board members as 'Diverse' or 'Not-Diverse,' AFL points out. Advertisement Per a public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cracker Barrel notes that when 'evaluating potential candidates for Board membership' the nominating committee 'considers, among other things … diversity of age, gender, race, and ethnic background.' 4 This focus on promoting and hiring based on 'diverse' characteristics can be seen in action via Cracker Barrel's categorization in internal company reports. Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Cracker Barrel also proudly touts its Diverse Employee Leadership Talent Advancement (DELTA) program in public filings, which the company describes as an effort meant to identify 'diverse managers who have exhibited all the skills we value in our top-performing managers' and position them 'to advance to their next role.' 'Our new, robust diversity training includes education throughout all levels of the Company about unconscious and implicit bias and focuses on creating an inclusive culture and fostering a sense of belonging for all,' a Securities and Exchange Commission filing discussing the DELTA program also adds. Advertisement AFL argues that, in practice, these policies from Cracker Barrel appear to have achieved their intended effect, with the company's representation of women and ethnic minorities among Cracker Barrel professional staff, store level management and hourly workers, having each increased by at least 3% since fiscal year 2022. AFL said only women hourly staff remained constant across the same period, though Cracker Barrel touts in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings that 70% of its employee population is female. 4 Cracker Barrel also proudly touts its Diverse Employee Leadership Talent Advancement (DELTA) program in public filings. AP 'Cracker Barrel's policies openly discriminate against heterosexual, white, and male employees in favor of diverse employees,' AFL's complaint, which asserts the policies violate Tennessee's Human Rights Act and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, argues. 'Discrimination advocates — under the guise of 'diversity' and 'equity' — have for years claimed that straight white men must be treated differently than diverse individuals by holding them to a higher evidentiary standard; however, the Supreme Court has directly addressed this claim, holding that 'Title VII does not impose such a heightened standard on majority-group plaintiffs,'' the complaint continues. 'Decades of case law hold that — no matter how well-intentioned — policies that seek to impose racial balancing are prohibited by Title VII.' Through its complaint, AFL is calling for Cracker Barrel and the EEOC to launch investigations into the matter, including a review of internal communications and a probe into whether the company used contractors with 'reckless disregard' to circumvent civil rights laws. AFL is also requesting the Tennessee Attorney General and EEOC enforce state and federal laws that would compel the company to halt its allegedly discriminatory DEI practices. Cracker Barrel did not respond to repeated requests for comment in time for publication.
