Lawsuit challenges Evanston’s first-of-its-kind reparations program

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A federal lawsuit alleges that Evanston’s reparations program is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit challenges the race-based eligibility requirement of the reparations program, which it says violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Under the program, $25,000 payments are made to residents and direct descendants of those who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969.

The plaintiffs are six people whose parents or grandparents lived in Evanston during that time period, and do not identify as Black or African American.

The suit argues that eligibility is not limited to those who actually experienced discrimination, and that the city failed to consider race-neutral alternatives.

It was filed by Judicial Watch, which describes itself as “a non-profit conservative action group.”

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