US Justice Department Sues Texas Prison System Over Religious Discrimination

The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for allegedly discriminating against a former employee based on her religious beliefs. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, claims that TDCJ violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by refusing to accommodate Franches Spears' request to wear a head covering as an expression of her Ifa faith.

Why this matters: This lawsuit highlights the ongoing struggle for religious freedom and accommodation in the workplace, emphasizing the need for employers to respect and accommodate diverse religious beliefs. The outcome of this case may set a precedent for future religious discrimination cases, potentially impacting the lives of millions of employees across the United States.

Spears, who worked as a non-uniformed clerk at the Pam Lychner State Jail in Humble, Texas, began wearing a headscarf to work in September 2019 in accordance with her religious beliefs. Despite allowing other employees to wear hats and non-religious head coverings, TDCJ refused to accommodate Spears' request. When she refused to remove her head covering, Spears was indefinitely suspended without pay, and her employment was eventually terminated.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of religious accommodations in the workplace. "Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs,"Clarke stated. Alleged religious discrimination"This lawsuit is a reminder to all employers of their clear legal obligation to offer reasonable religious accommodations. In our country, employers cannot force an employee to choose between their faith and their job."

The Ifa religion, practiced for thousands of years, is part of the culture of Nigeria's Yoruba communities, according to UNESCO. When Spears explained the significance of the head covering to her superiors, human resources employee Elizabeth Fisk reportedly dismissed her beliefs, saying "Basically you just pray to a rock." The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, and applicable interest, as well as a permanent injunction to prevent TDCJ from engaging inalleged religious discriminationand to adopt policies ensuring a non-discriminatory workplace.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is responsible for enforcing Title VII and has made the full and fair enforcement of the law a top priority. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani emphasized, "Religious discrimination in the workplace will not be tolerated in our district."

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has since amended its policies to explicitly permit religious headwear. However, the agency stated that it does not comment on pending litigation, but "respects the religious rights of all employees and inmates." The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Franches Spears, seeks to compel TDCJ to implement lawful religious accommodation policies and provide compensation for lost wages and damages resulting from the alleged discriminatory conduct.

Key Takeaways

• US DOJ sues Texas Department of Criminal Justice for religious discrimination.
• Former employee Franches Spears was fired for wearing a headscarf for her Ifa faith.
• TDCJ refused to accommodate her request, despite allowing non-religious head coverings.
• Lawsuit seeks damages and policy changes to prevent future religious discrimination.
• TDCJ has since amended its policies to permit religious headwear, but lawsuit continues.