Facing Discrimination Lawsuit, Pfizer Abandons Minorities-Only Fellowship

Pfizer headquarters in New York City was criticized for its ‘flagrantly unlawful’ program. / Getty images

Six months have passed since top civil rights lawyers were last in the spotlight Pfizer announced that the program was in violation of federal law and has now opened a fellowship to minorities for all applicants following a discrimination case.

Between Feb. 14 And Feb. 18According to web archives Pfizer had quietly removed the requirement that applicants for its Breakthrough Fellowship have to be Hispanic, Black or Native American. All college juniors are eligible to apply for this program that offers guaranteed employment with the pharmaceutical company. “demonstrated commitment” To “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” New application guidelines state That “you are eligible to apply for the Breakthrough Fellowship Program regardless of whether you are of Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic, or Native American descent.”

These changes are made amid a legal dispute between Pfizer, Do No Harm and a medical advocacy organization that was founded in September sued The fellowship was denied to the company. Although a federal judge Tossed out Do No Harm filed an answer in December, claiming that the plaintiffs did not have standing. Appeal January 4, 2005 Stanley Goldfarb is the chairman of the group and now takes credit for the changes. He argues that they reflect the ability of lawfare against reverse discrimination.

“This significant change was made only after Do No Harm’s lawsuit, and only because Pfizer knows its fellowship is in jeopardy on appeal,” Goldfarb is also the father Washington Free Beacon Chairman Michael Goldfarb stated in a statement. “Do No Harm is pleased that Pfizer recognizes its blatant racial discrimination is unlawful and immoral.”

Pfizer spokesperson told The Telegraph that the Free Beacon The program’s goals had not changed, and that was the reason why it continued to exist. “a broad coalition” strengthens “our ability to meet these goals.”

This reversal was first reported by National ReviewThis signals a slight reversal of race-based corporate practices that are now widespread in America. Pfizer isn’t the only company that flouts anti discrimination law. Starbucks and JPMorgan To Google And Amazon, Fortune 500 companies have adopted race-conscious programs with ease, advertising policies and programs that many lawyers consider illegal.

This tendency was most evident in the Breakthrough Fellowship. Five civil rights experts said that it brazenly broke laws against race-based hiring, and contracting. Free BeaconAccording to Do No Harm’s lawsuitTitle VI, Civil Right Act