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EXCLUSIVE: Civil Rights Complaint Filed Against Dodgers and Guggenheim Partners
A federal civil rights complaint has been lodged with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Guggenheim Partners, alleging "unlawful discrimination" disguised as "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) practices. This complaint, filed by America First Legal (AFL), a nonprofit conservative public interest organization, claims violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Mark Walter, the majority owner of the Dodgers and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, is at the helm of both entities. Recently, Walter made headlines by becoming the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers in a landmark $10 billion deal with the Buss family.
Allegations of Discrimination
The AFL’s complaint asserts that the employment practices of both the Dodgers and Guggenheim Partners discriminate against employees or potential hires based solely on their race or gender. According to the complaint, even when using inclusive language, these practices segregate and classify individuals in ways that could hinder their employment, training, or promotional opportunities.
The complaint highlights that the Dodgers’ DEI website states they are "sponsoring programs geared to women and people of color," while also embedding DEI strategies throughout the organization. The AFL criticized the DEI mission statement on the Dodgers’ website, which emphasizes creating a culture that values diverse voices and experiences.
AFL contends that the organization is employing DEI strategies in ways that set measurable goals, which may lead to unlawful discriminatory hiring and recruitment practices. The complaint also points out that the Dodgers allow employees to join various "Business Resource Groups" (BRGs) that seem to offer employment benefits based on race, color, sex, or national origin.
Investigation Request
The AFL is calling for an investigation into Guggenheim Partners, which also maintains a "Diversity and Inclusion" page. This page indicates that DEI influences recruitment, professional development, and contracting within the firm. The complaint asserts that when diversity becomes a factor in hiring decisions—specifically concerning race, gender, and ethnicity—it leads to unlawful discrimination.
Both Guggenheim Partners and the Dodgers have established Business Development Resource Groups (BDRGs) that, while open to all employees, provide employment advantages based on immutable characteristics, furthering DEI goals. The AFL suggests that the EEOC should examine application data and internal HR practices of both organizations to determine if their policies reference employment preferences based on race, color, sex, or national origin, in violation of federal law.
Response and Broader Context
As of now, neither the Dodgers nor Guggenheim Partners has responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump signed executive orders aimed at rolling back DEI initiatives, prompting Major League Baseball (MLB) to remove references to diversity from their website.
Despite these national rollbacks, the New York Yankees remain committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within their organization. Senior Vice President of Corporate and Community Relations, Brian Smith, emphasized the team’s ongoing dedication to these efforts and their active engagement with the community.
In October 2023, the AFL also filed a federal civil rights complaint against MLB for racially discriminatory programs, pointing to multiple unlawful employment initiatives, including the Diversity Pipeline Program launched in 2016.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
