The Justice Department announced that a federal judge has approved a consent decree resolving a lawsuit against the Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter Schools (ASTEC) in Oklahoma City. The lawsuit alleged that ASTEC discriminated against Marcus Rethwill, a former teacher, by denying him a religious exemption from its vaccine mandate, leading to his termination. This was cited as a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion, among other factors.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division 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, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, further stated, “No employee should be forced to violate their religious beliefs just to keep their job.”
As per the consent decree, ASTEC will pay Rethwill $95,000 and make changes to its anti-religious discrimination policy, which includes mandatory training for its staff. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Oklahoma City Area Office investigated the discrimination charge before it was referred to the Justice Department for litigation.
Rethwill’s case underscores the Justice Department's commitment to enforcing Title VII and protecting against religious discrimination in the workplace.