The Justice Department has taken legal action against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for religious discrimination. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, accuses TDCJ of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying an employee's religious accommodation request.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized, "Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs." She added, "This lawsuit is a reminder to all employers of their clear legal obligation to offer reasonable religious accommodations."
U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas echoed this sentiment, stating, "Religious discrimination in the workplace will not be tolerated in our district." He emphasized that TDCJ, like any other employer, must reasonably accommodate employees as mandated by Title VII.
The lawsuit centers around Franches Spears, a non-uniformed clerk, who requested to wear a head covering in accordance with her Ifa faith. Despite TDCJ allowing other employees to wear non-religious head coverings, the complaint alleges that Spears was suspended without pay and ultimately terminated for refusing to remove her head covering.
The Justice Department's legal action seeks to compel TDCJ to implement lawful religious accommodation policies and provide compensation to Spears for lost wages and damages.
Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on various factors including religion. It also prohibits retaliation against employees who report discrimination. Individuals with complaints of religious discrimination or retaliation are encouraged to contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is committed to enforcing Title VII. Trial Attorneys Vendarryl Jenkins and Cheyenne Chambers, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Karpati, are handling the case in the Southern District of Texas.