Ultra-woke Portland could face a federal investigation over its use of alleged “race-first” policies across the Oregon city — despite claiming to have rolled back its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The City of Roses has been accused of “institutionalized modern discrimination” during its push to abandon racial “colorblind” policies in hiring and policing, according to a new complaint from America First Legal, a conservative advocacy group.
“In the context of race, being colorblind marginalizes negative racial conflicts, cultural heritage, and unique perspectives of people of color,” Portland Fire & Rescue said on its website, describing anti-racism and equity as two of the city’s core values.
“Colorblindness stands in the way of our necessity to address racial differences and difficulties—we cannot be colorblind until we address all the issues that color consciousness has created.”
Similar sentiments are pervasive across Portland agencies and indicate that local officials are continuing to make “race a central factor” in their decision-making, according to the complaint.
Of particular concern are the Portland Police Bureau’s racial equity policies.
“The Portland Police Bureau will dedicate staff, time and resources to best support equitable
outcomes,” a racial equity plan commitment from the city cited in the complaint reads.
“Portland Police Bureau will ensure equitable use of current and future technology.”
America First Legal, which has filed similar discrimination complaints in the past, such as its civil rights filing against Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore over the summer, argued that Portland is violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race-based discrimination.
“In Portland, leftwing bureaucrats have embedded ‘equity’ principles throughout the government, including at the [Police] Bureau where ‘lived experience’ and ‘equitable outcomes’ take priority,” America First Legal’s Will Scolinos wrote in a complaint to the Justice Department obtained by The Post.
Scolinos filed the complaint with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, seeking a probe into Portland’s policies on race and to ensure that federal dollars aren’t flowing to the city’s race-based directives.
The complaint is aimed at both the City of Portland and its Bureau of Police.
Scolinos warned that the Portland Police Bureau’s race-based hiring methods could have a negative impact on public safety and fairness.
“Americans of all creeds rely on law enforcement to enforce the law without regard to race,” Scolinos said in a press release.
“If you have two standards of justice, you have none. The law is the only standard we need.”
America First Legal alleges that Portland’s pursuit of a “race-first” is woven across its city apparatus.
“Equity addresses the historic, institutional systems that create oppression based on identity,” Portland’s Office of Equity and Human Rights explains on its website in another example cited by the legal advocacy group.
“The City of Portland leads with race and disability.”
Back in July, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson took executive action to roll back some of the city’s DEI policies in order to preserve federal funding amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on such policies.
The executive order resulted in modifications to about 75 programs and policies within the city. In signing that order, Wilson declared, “In Portland, we believe in diversity, we believe in equity, and we believe in inclusion.”
Scolinos argued that some of Portland’s key racial misdeeds are still going on, despite the commitment to back off its past DEI policies.
“Although the City of Portland has stated that it will retreat from some of its most egregious diversity, equity, and inclusion (‘DEI’) policies and comply with federal [policies] to keep its federal funding, it has also stated that the above Citywide Racial Equity Goals and Strategies ‘have not changed,’” he noted.
Overall, the complaint suggests that Portland’s open disdain for racial colorblind practices and public statements on equity are proof that the lefty city is flouting the Civil Rights Act.
“The City of Portland has embedded divisive and discriminatory, race-centric concepts of equity citywide and throughout all aspects of agencies like the Portland Police Bureau,” the complaint concluded.
“We ask that your office investigate the allegations in this complaint to ensure Portland’s full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and to take all actions necessary to remedy the unlawful practices.”
Portland is a city that is about two-thirds white. It previously had a reputation for being one of the whitest large cities in the country, though over recent years, it has grown more diverse.
The Post contacted Wilson’s office, the Portland Police Bureau and the DOJ Civil Rights Division for comment.
