The Justice Department has secured a settlement in a lawsuit involving Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter Schools (ASTEC) in Oklahoma City. The lawsuit alleged religious discrimination against Marcus Rethwill, a former teacher. The dispute arose when ASTEC denied Rethwill's request for a religious exemption from the school's vaccine mandate, citing his inability to provide a clergy letter to support his claim. This action was claimed to be in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on various grounds, including religion.
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Harmeet K. Dhillon, remarked, "When employees’ religious principles conflict with work rules, they should not be forced to choose between practicing their religion and keeping their jobs if a reasonable accommodation can be made."
Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, commented, "No employee should be forced to violate their religious beliefs just to keep their job."
As outlined in the consent decree, ASTEC has agreed to pay Rethwill $95,000 in damages. Furthermore, the school must revise its anti-religious discrimination policy and conduct mandatory training on the subject for its personnel.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Oklahoma City Area Office investigated Rethwill's discrimination charge and attempted to resolve the matter prior to its referral to the Department of Justice. More details about the EEOC can be found on their official site.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prioritizes enforcing the protections provided under Title VII. Additional information regarding their mission and activities is available on the Justice Department's website.