epp files major lawsuit against ny state

From: William A. Jacobson <info@legalinsurrection.com>
To: "add1dda@aol.com" <add1dda@aol.com>

epp files major lawsuit against ny state

You've heard the term "systemic racism." We found it in a New York State-funded grant program at 56 colleges and universities that discriminates against Asian and White students. We have filed a lawsuit to have all children treated equally, not as second-class citizens based on race and ethnicity.

As you may know, the Equal Protection Project (EPP) (EqualProtect.org) has challenged numerous racially discriminatory programs done in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and we have had a huge impact.

 

We have now teamed up with Pacific Legal Foundation to challenge the New York Science and Technology Entry Program ("STEP") Act, which provides state-funded grants to 56 colleges and universities in NY State for programs in science and technology for middle and high school students. You may recall the STEP Act, as it was at issue in legal challenges EPP filed against the public SUNY Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and six private medical schools in NY State. 

 

Those legal challenges were against the schools receiving and implementing the discriminatory funding. They were liable, we argued, because the schools were not legally obligated to take the funds, so it was no legal excuse that the funding came with discriminatory strings attached.

 

The STEP Act program is huge. Almost 11,000 middle and high school students participate yearly, with another 6,000 college students under a separate program not at issue in this lawsuit. (That may be subject to a separate lawsuit in the future.) Fifty-six colleges and universities have STEP programs. 

 

This racism is as systemic as it gets, it's openly built into the law and regulations. Why did no one speak out against it? Why did state and college officials turn a blind eye to open discrimination? It took EPP to bring these discriminatory practices to light and to take action.

Now we are going after the source of the funding and discrimination, the STEP Act itself and implementing regulations of the NY State Education Department, seeking a declaration and injunction against the discriminatory provisions. The Complaint was filed in federal court in the Northern District of New York.

 

The lawsuit is important, as this full-page ny post article reflects.

This legal action, the first major statewide lawsuit filed by epp since launch less than a year ago, reflects our approach. We started small, methodically challenging the practices of the end-user colleges. Now we are taking on the entire system.

Methodically is how we do it. We're not flashy, and we don't have a big advertising budget. In fact, we don't have any advertising budget. We just get it done, week after week. The massive media attention we have garnered is earned, not purchased, and reflects that we are on the leading edge of the fight against DEI discrimination.

To those of you who recently donated, know that you are part of this success and you have had an impact. To those who have not yet donated, please consider joining us in this effort.

We all can, and are, making a difference.

Yours, Bill Jacobson