Macy’s Hit With Federal Complaint Right Before Thanksgiving Day Parade

Shoppers walk into a Macy's department store at Miami International Mall in Doral, Fla., on Feb. 22, 2021. Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo

A former Trump adviser’s legal group filed a complaint against Macy’s for allegedly implementing a racially discriminatory diversity mandate, coming right before the company is slated to launch its Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.

In a federal civil rights complaint, America First Legal wrote that “there are strong reasons to believe that Macy’s is intentionally and systemically violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by unlawfully conditioning hiring, promotion, training, and other functions on race, color, national origin, and/or sex.”

“As you know, Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating against any prospective or current employee because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” the complaint said.

It added: “It also prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in admission to, or employment in, any program established to provide apprenticeship or other training. Despite clear federal law, Macy’s has set explicit racial and other quotas for hiring and similar functions that appear to facially violate federal law.”

The complaint cited public statements made by Macy’s, including a 2022 diversity report issued by the firm, that published “statistics highlighting the sex and ‘Non-White’ membership ratio of its corporate board.” And it also makes note of the company’s capacity to apply DEI—or diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements—to the firm’s hiring and promotion.

America First Legal, which is headed by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, also wrote on social media that Macy’s is “denying career advancement to white straight men.”

John A. Zadrozny, AFL deputy director of oversight and investigations, said in a statement that Macy’s own public-facing materials show they are engaging in personnel practices that violate federal law.

“Because of this, Macy’s is now going to have to explain to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission why they have chosen to become a civil rights violator. It is our hope that Macy’s takes this opportunity to correct its unlawful and egregious conduct as soon as possible.”

The Epoch Times contacted Macy’s for comment Wednesday. So far, Macy’s has not publicly responded to the complaint.

Cease and Desist Letter

In a separate letter, America First Legal wrote to the company’s CEO, Jeff Gennette, saying his firm is potentially committing “violations” of its “fiduciary duty,” in which “institutional investors might be dissatisfied with the Company’s racial policies and political and social funding choices.” The letter added that “the risk of damage to the Company’s customer base due to such policies is neither acknowledged nor addressed.”

The letter said that Macy’s should “immediately cease and desist from all contracting and employment practices that discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex” in a bid to “racially balance” the firm’s workforce.

“Macy’s should retain an independent counsel to conduct a compliance audit of the Company’s hiring and contracting practices and then make that report fully and transparently available to investors and shareholders,” it continued.

The letter also warned the company’s CEO that he should anticipate a lawsuit over the matter, asking the firm to preserve all relevant records related to its hiring practices and DEI protocols. However, it did not say when the litigation might come.

Some states have recently taken action against DEI programs at schools. For example, the Iowa Board of Regents last week voted to to rescind diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state universities, which some conservatives say are Marxist or discriminatory against white people.

The Spiderman balloon makes its way through Times Square in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on Nov. 24, 2011. Michael Nagle/Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, recently praised Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, also a Republican, for pushing for a review for state DEI programs.

“The Left tells us DEI stands for ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.’ But as practiced, it more closely represents ‘Discrimination, Exclusion, and Indoctrination.’ That has no place in our universities,” Mr. DeSantis wrote in a post on X. “I applaud Gov. @KimReynoldsIA for fighting back against this scam! Iowa and Florida continue to lead the way.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that effectively struck down affirmative action in college admissions. By a 6–3 vote in June of this year, the justices ruled that admissions programs at the University of North Carolina and Harvard College violate the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.