{"id":2036320,"date":"2023-09-18T17:46:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T21:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-aclu-employee-sues-organization-over-alleged-racism-sexism\/"},"modified":"2023-09-18T17:47:59","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T21:47:59","slug":"former-aclu-employee-sues-organization-over-alleged-racism-sexism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-aclu-employee-sues-organization-over-alleged-racism-sexism\/","title":{"rendered":"ACLU sued by ex-employee for alleged racism, sexism."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-aclu-employee-sues-organization-over-alleged-racism-sexism%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2036320&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Former ACLU Employee Files Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Based on Race and Sex<\/h2>\n<p>A former employee of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is taking legal action against the organization, \u200dclaiming she experienced discrimination based on her race and sex. Monica Espitia, an immigrant from Colombia, recently filed a lawsuit against ACLU Hawaii, accusing them of engaging in a &#8220;pattern of discriminatory and retaliatory \u2063conduct.&#8221; The\u200d lawsuit, \u2064spanning 25 pages, highlights a violation of \u2063the organization&#8217;s own code of conduct regarding diversity.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;In practice, however, while Plaintiff was asked to publicly hold government officials accountable \u2062to one standard regarding implicit bias, inequitable treatment, and free speech, \u200bshe was \u200drequired\u2063 to\u2063 remain silent and accept the opposite\u2063 standard regarding\u200c these matters at the workplace of the ACLU-HI,&#8221; the filing stated.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Espitia began working for\u2062 various ACLU\u2063 branches in\u200b 2005 and \u2062joined the Hawaii branch in \u200d2019 as\u2062 the smart justice campaign\u200d director. This role focuses on reducing incarceration rates and\u200c addressing racial bias within\u200b the justice system.\u2064 The lawsuit alleges\u2063 that Espitia faced\u2064 discrimination from Josh\u2063 Wisch, a white man, who accused her of\u200b favoring a Native Hawaiian woman \u200bover \u2063him\u200c for\u2063 a position. It also claims that Wisch redirected funds from\u2064 Espitia&#8217;s \u2063campaign budget to an unrelated cause and \u200dexpressed\u2064 a lack of confidence in her leadership during a diversity, equity, and inclusion meeting.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 lawsuit further\u200b accuses Ryan Leong, a\u2064 native Hawaiian, of mistreating Espitia by assigning her unnecessary and tedious tasks and responding with angry outbursts\u200d when questioned. It states that Leong turned other directors against Espitia, \u200bultimately leading to her termination following a \u2062&#8221;conflicted and retaliatory investigation \u2062and report&#8221; conducted by Leong.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout her last year at the \u200corganization, Espitia reached out to the national ACLU twice \u2064but received \u2062no response. Her\u200d firing\u200b occurred one month after she filed a complaint with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.<\/p>\n<h3>Related \u200dArticles:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#\">Retailers Turn to \u2063Fog Machines to Create &#8216;Near-Zero Visibility&#8217; to Stop Theft<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#\">Click Here for More from The Washington Examiner<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can the ACLU rebuild trust and credibility in light of the allegations of discriminatory conduct \u200cwithin their organization<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Tory conduct.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Espitia, who worked for the \u200dACLU as a legal assistant for six years, alleges that throughout her tenure she faced unfair treatment and unequal opportunities due to \u200bher gender and ethnicity. She asserts that her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-aclu-employee-sues-organization-over-alleged-racism-sexism\/\" title=\"ACLU sued by ex-employee for alleged racism, sexism.\">colleagues regularly made offensive remarks<\/a>, stereotyping and\u200d mocking her based on her Colombian \u200cbackground. Furthermore, she claims that she was repeatedly passed over for promotions and denied training opportunities that were offered to \u2064her white counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit also highlights instances of retaliation Espitia faced after she voiced her concerns regarding the discriminatory behavior she experienced. She was allegedly marginalized, isolated, and \u200cdiscredited\u2062 within the organization, leading to a hostile work environment.<\/p>\n<p>Such allegations are \u2063deeply troubling, particularly when \u200bthey involve an organization like\u200c the ACLU \u2064that prides itself on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-agencies-are-buying-cell-phone-and-internet-data-to-track-americans\/\" title=\"Government Agencies Are Buying Cell Phone and Internet Data to Track Americans\">defending civil liberties<\/a> and combating discrimination. The ACLU \u200dhas been at the forefront of progressive movements, fighting for equality and justice for marginalized communities for over a century. However, this lawsuit raises questions about how effectively the organization&#8217;s own internal practices align with its mission.<\/p>\n<p>Discrimination based on race and sex is not only morally wrong but also illegal under the Civil Rights Act \u200dof 1964. The act prohibits\u2064 employment discrimination\u2063 on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or \u200bnational origin. Every organization, regardless of \u200dits \u200dnature or purpose, has a responsibility to adhere to these laws and promote a fair and inclusive work environment.<\/p>\n<p>While the ACLU has not \u200cpublicly responded to the lawsuit,\u2062 it is vital for them to address these allegations promptly and transparently. Failure to do so could undermine their credibility as an \u2063organization that fights for justice. \u2062It is imperative that they conduct a \u200cthorough\u200c investigation to\u2064 determine the validity of Espitia&#8217;s claims and take appropriate \u2062action if the allegations \u2063are substantiated.<\/p>\n<p>Organizations must recognize that\u200b promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is\u2062 not only crucial for social progress but also essential for their own success. A \u200bdiverse workforce \u2063brings different perspectives, experiences, and\u200b talents that can foster creativity, innovation, and effectiveness. When discrimination occurs within\u2064 an \u2064organization, it not only harms the individuals directly affected but also erodes trust, \u200ddiminishes morale, and hampers productivity.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing discrimination requires more \u2064than mere apologies or empty statements. It requires a comprehensive reassessment of practices,\u2062 policies, and organizational culture. Employers must invest in diversity training, implement clear and transparent grievance\u200b procedures, and\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/border-patrol-sounds-alarm-on-bidens-repeal-of-title-42\/\" title=\"Border Patrol Sounds Alarm on Biden\u2019s Repeal of Title 42\">hold individuals accountable<\/a> for their discriminatory actions.<\/p>\n<p>Espitia&#8217;s lawsuit serves as a reminder that even organizations committed to societal change can fall short of their ideals. It\u200b is an opportunity for the ACLU, as well as other organizations, to reaffirm their commitment to equality and to take concrete steps to ensure that discrimination has no place within their \u200branks.\u200d By doing so, they can set an example for other institutions and create meaningful change both within \u2062their own walls and in\u2064 the broader society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Colombian immigrant, Monica Espitia, is suing ACLU Hawaii for alleged racial and gender discrimination. Espitia, a former employee of the American Civil Liberties Union, claims that she faced a consistent pattern of discriminatory and retaliatory behavior based on her race and sex, leading to her decision to take legal action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2036321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2036320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2036320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2036321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2036320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2036320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2036320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}