‘Bullying’ lawsuits over CRT

A group of Minnesotans are planning to file three lawsuits against education, health-care and state institutions after alleging bullying, retaliation against employees and First Amendment violations related to critical race theory in the state.

The suits, first announced Monday, accuse the Hennepin Healthcare System, the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Lakeville school district of causing a “racially hostile environment” in promoting the theory.

Only the case against the school district, has been filed in federal court. The other two parties have to submit their claims to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before their suits can continue.

“Our clients are bravely confronting CRT-inspired bullying, indoctrination and retaliation, which is not ‘training’ or persuasion,” Doug Seaton, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said.

Critical race theory, which gained prominence after the death of George Floyd in May 2020, holds that racism underlies all human interaction and views the human experience as a constant struggle between races. Critics claim it teaches children to judge based on skin color.