Pfizer In Hot Water For Daring To Have A Diversity Program

What's next? Not exclusively giving jobs to people with millionaire parents?

law firm diversityMuch like the notion of an equal vote, attempts to rectify systemic discrimination by preferring members of historically disenfranchised communities is likely on the chopping block this Supreme Court term. Affirmative action-adjacent policies where schools prefer students from specific racial backgrounds are being hit with claims of reverse racism, as are corporate attempts to implement DEI policies. Pfizer is one of the newest to be accused of reverse racism. From Reuters:

Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) said its fellowship program for minorities serves the public interest, as the drugmaker defends against a lawsuit by a group of medical professionals that claims the program illegally excludes whites and Asian-Americans.

In a Tuesday night filing, Pfizer urged a Manhattan federal judge to reject Do No Harm’s request for an injunction against filling the 2023 class for its Breakthrough Fellowship Program, which enrolls Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans.

Pfizer said the two-year-old program helps address historical discrimination in the workplace, and difficulties in recruiting, retaining and promoting minorities.

Pfizer is probably right that Do No Harm’s claims are likely to fail, citing a lack of standing and no real ability to show irreparable harm because the program is in place. That said, my money is on similar cases like this popping up here and there until SCOTUS cherry picks the fact pattern that allows for the cleanest repudiation of any legal attempt to… you know… live up to our nation’s potential. Time will tell.

Pfizer, Facing Lawsuit, Says Minority Fellowship Program Serves Public Interest [Reuters]


Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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