DOJ Challenges Evanston’s Race-Based Reparations Program

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is opposing Evanston, Illinois’ decision to discard a federal lawsuit targeting its race-based reparations program. The lawsuit, initially filed by Judicial Watch, claims the program unlawfully bases eligibility on race.

A federal judge recently permitted the DOJ to intervene in the civil rights lawsuit, which Judicial Watch, a conservative group, initially brought forth. Evanston’s attorney, Precious S. Jacobs-Perry, announced their intention to seek dismissal of the DOJ’s complaint, emphasizing the city’s commitment to its reparations initiative.

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss has defended the program, asserting it addresses wealth disparities and aims to repay historical debts. The program offers $25,000, housing benefits, and monetary payments to Black residents and descendants who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969. The city approved the initiative in 2019, allocating $10 million over a decade through a local cannabis tax.

The DOJ argues that the program violates federal laws by distributing taxpayer benefits based solely on race and lineage. The department’s complaint highlights breaches of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and the Fair Housing Act.

Despite the DOJ’s opposition, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness had rejected Evanston’s previous attempt to dismiss Judicial Watch’s lawsuit. Judicial Watch’s attorney, Michael Bekesha, stated that Evanston’s payments are unconstitutional and expressed skepticism about the success of Evanston’s latest dismissal efforts.

The lawsuit represents six non-Black individuals with historical ties to Evanston who were excluded from the reparations program due to racial criteria.

Cynthia Vargas, a spokesperson for Evanston, stated that the city would continue to defend its reparations program despite the ongoing legal challenges.