McDonald’s is being sued over its HACER program, which grants scholarships to high school students with Hispanic or Latino heritage. The lawsuit claims that the program discriminates against non-Hispanic students. In a week, McDonald’s ditched some of its diversity and inclusion policies amid criticism they were “woke.” However, it continued the HACER scholarship program despite warnings from critics.
The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) is challenging race-based preference and discrimination. The group claims that McDonald’s policy unfairly benefits Hispanic students and excludes non-Hispanic students like an Arkansas girl who applied but was rejected due to her ethnicity.
McDonald’s said it began reviewing its inclusion work after the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action in 2024. The company claims that part of its evolution includes reviewing programs, including HACER, to ensure they align with its vision moving forward. However, critics say the changes do not necessarily mean meaningful reforms have taken place.
The AAER is seeking a temporary injunction ahead of McDonald’s announcement of this year’s award in February, citing concerns over potential discrimination against non-Hispanic students.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-us/mcdonalds-sued-latino-scholarship-program-days-ditching-some-dei-policies