Federal appeals court blocks Fearless Fund from issuing grants to only Black women

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN US

Updated 5:02 PM EDT, Mon June 3, 2024


CNN — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has blocked a Black-owned venture capitalist firm from awarding grants exclusively to Black women entrepreneurs.

In an opinion released Monday, the judges ruled that the Fearless Fund’s Fearless Strivers Grant Contest is “substantially likely to violate” the provisions of Title 42 of the US Code, which ensures equal rights under the law and prohibits the use of race when awarding and enforcing contracts.

In the ruling, the appellate court ordered a federal court in Georgia to enter a preliminary injunction blocking the fund from closing its grant application process while the case continues to be litigated. It also states that the fund’s program is unlikely to be protected by the First Amendment.

The court’s decision marks a victory for anti-affirmative action legal strategist Edward Blum, who filed a lawsuit last August against the fund on behalf of his group American Alliance for Equal Rights.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/03/us/edward-blum-fearless-fund-appeal-ruling-reaj/index.html

[Mawspam2]

1. Is the Fearless Fund using public money?

If not, it is a private venture that can spend its money any way they want.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. It's a venture capital firm

Some more info - https://19thnews.org/2024/05/fearless-fund-black-women-dei-lawsuit/

The RW loons want to defund uppity POC and put them back on the plantation.

Good subject for a targeted Biden campaign ad.

[benfranklin1776]

3. Very good subject indeed.

It’s yet another stark reminder that the judges a President appoints can wreak havoc on our society long after that President is no longer in office and that the type of judges Agent Orange appointed, and would appoint if he ever steals office again, are committed to stripping away every long established constitutional protection and, as demonstrated here, destroying any and all beneficial laws and policies for the protection and advancement of the public good. The issue of the federal judiciary must therefore be a critical campaign focus.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. That is why Biden and Schumer are working as hard as they can

to fill those judicial vacancies. And not just stick any old person in there but a whole diverse set of judges who have life experiences that better match American society as a whole.

[benfranklin1776]

5. Yes that they have commendably done!

And the campaign should remind people of that , as well as the horrific consequences to that legacy which would be undone if Agent Orange commits felonious theft of office again 😡

[BumRushDaShow]

6. They had a big announcement last month!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143244487

They gotta keep it rolling through the rest of this year.

[onenote]

10. Even private entities are subject to the civil rights laws.

I'm certain that if there was a venture capital group that refused to give grants to anyone except white males, we'd be up in arms as we should be.

The issue here, as explained in the dissent, is that this is a manufactured case. None of the plaintiffs have applied for and been turned down for a grant nor have they established that they are ready and able to do so. So there is no standing. And the case should have been dismissed.

[cstanleytech]

7. Is changing it to college scholarships or loans legal then?

[BumRushDaShow]

8. The same group has been going after orgs that provide those types of services too.

Fearless Fund's goal is to provide start-up funding for new/budding majority black women-owned businesses because other groups won't give them funding.

If you're black, step back.

[csziggy]

9. Good question - of particular interest for me

One of the provisions in my will is to set up a scholarship fund at a historically black university that has an engineering school. The intent is to provide scholarships for POC women or women from other minorities going into STEM programs.

My main intention was to provide scholarships for women, but I have decided to fund it through the black university (rather than my alma mater which is also involved in the engineering school) to encourage women and minorities to get into those fields.

There are more than enough white men in those fields and they do not need encouragement.

I don't want these right wing judges to block the provisions of the endowment my estate will set up. I KNOW what I want and will haunt them if they fucking block it.

[electric_blue68]

11. I Disagree w the Ruling bc there are Still so many Disparities regarding race, and gender. Put them together, and it's

worse!

And BRTS highlights the too many Black women entrepreneurs have been denied.

Good luck to Fearless Fund.
Can they go to another Circuit Court, or is SCOTUS the only option? AND considering that current configuration... Idk, low chance of reversal?