The U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief Thursday supporting a group suing Southwest Airlines over a travel program that gave free flights to some Hispanic students.
In a proposed statement of interest, the DOJ said it's seeking to clarify federal law protects the equal right of all Americans, regardless of race, and accused Southwest of discriminating against non-Hispanic students through its 隆L谩nzate! or Take Off! Travel Award Program.
"The United States has a strong interest in protecting the civil rights of all Americans, including the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics," court documents say.
The 隆L谩nzate! or Take Off! Travel Award Program was an annual program in partnership with Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, offering free Southwest Airlines flight vouchers for low-income Hispanic college and graduate students to go home to visit their parents.
Southwest said in email to 四虎影院 it hadto include applicants of all backgrounds.
"In 2024, Southwest Airlines and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities updated the eligibility requirements of the 隆Lanzate! charitable program, which awards participants roundtrip flights for travel between their home and college or university," the email read. "Eligibility for the program is not limited by race, ethnicity, or national origin. Students are required to be enrolled at a college/university located at least 200 miles from the student鈥檚 home to apply."
The American Alliance for Equal Rights sued the Dallas-based airline last year alleging Southwest鈥檚 program illegally discriminated against non-Hispanic students after two of its members couldn鈥檛 apply because they weren鈥檛 Hispanic, according to court records.
"The American Alliance for Equal Rights is grateful that the U.S. Justice Department has recognized and supports our claim of discriminatory policies at [Southwest]," said Edward Blum, president of AAER in a statement to 四虎影院.
四虎影院 reached out to the DOJ and will update this story with any response.
The AAER filed a similar suit in February against American Airlines over its supplier diversity program on claims it excludes businesses owned by white men, according to court records. AAER said in the suit it represents two of its members who wanted to contract as suppliers with the airline, but 鈥渄on鈥檛 meet American鈥檚 racial criteria.鈥�
A screenshot of the airline鈥檚 website included in the suit states companies that qualify as a diverse supplier, 鈥渕ust be at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by one of these groups.鈥� The list includes Black, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Native American, women, LGBTQ, those with disabilities, veterans and service-disabled veterans.
As evidence of discrimination in the Southwest Airlines suit, the DOJ only Hispanic students are allowed to apply. In response, Southwest agreed to end the program in an effort to end the lawsuit. The airline sent AAER one penny 鈥� the amount they cited as damages 鈥� and asked them to voluntarily dismiss the case, according to court documents. AAER rejected the offer and said it wanted to go through with its suit.
In its filing, the DOJ said that while Southwest has not admitted the program discriminated based on race or ethnicity, there is no dispute that the program was 鈥渙nly for Hispanic students.鈥�
鈥淒iscrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our community,鈥� Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham for the Northern District of Texas said in a press release Thursday. 鈥淥ur office will continue to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws to address racial discrimination affecting our residents.鈥�
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