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Press Release

Justice Department Launches Investigation into Rhode Island for Race-Based Employment Preferences in Violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into the State of Rhode Island (“Rhode Island”) concerning potential race-based discrimination in state employment practices.

The state of Rhode Island mandates state agencies set hiring targets that are effectively race-based employment quotas.[1] These statutorily mandated goals pressure state agencies to engage in discriminatory, and potentially unlawful, hiring practices. The Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section opened the investigation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, national origin, and other protected characteristics.

“The state of Rhode Island’s official hiring policy embraces racial discrimination, something the Supreme Court has long held to be unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Discrimination in the name of ‘diversity’ is not only fundamentally unjust, but it also violates federal law. The Civil Rights Division will investigate Rhode Island’s discriminatory policy and take appropriate action if warranted.”

You can view the notice letter here


[1] Rhode Island General Law, §28-5.1-3(b) (“Each state department or agency, excluding the legislative branch of state government, shall annually prepare an affirmative action plan.”); see also Guidelines for State of Rhode Island Government Affirmative Action Plans, Affirmative Action | Rhode Island Office of Division of Equity Diversity and Inclusion.

Updated June 5, 2025

Topic
Civil Rights
Press Release Number: 25-583