Judge rejects SPU’s arguments that its hiring practices are immune from state law
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that a federal judge dismissed Seattle Pacific University’s attempt to stop his office’s investigation into potential illegal discrimination by the university’s administration.
“My office respects the religious views of all Washingtonians and the constitutional rights afforded to religious institutions,” Ferguson said. “As a person of faith, I share that view. Seattle Pacific University, however, is not above the law. Instead of answering questions about its hiring process, the university filed a federal lawsuit arguing that it is above the law to such an extraordinary degree that my office cannot even send it a letter asking for information about its employment policies. Today, a federal judge appropriately rejected that extreme position. It is our responsibility to uphold Washingtonians’ civil rights, and we plan to do that job.”
In May, Seattle Pacific University (SPU) students and staff staged a sit-in and called for the removal of the university’s board of trustees after they voted to keep in place the portion of the school’s policies that prohibit employees from engaging in “same-sex sexual activity.” Numerous SPU students and faculty complained to the Attorney General’s Office about the university’s policies, concerned that they illegally violate Washingtonians’ civil rights.
Ferguson sent the university a letter in response to...
A video shared by journalist Piyush Rai on September 29, Wednesday, showed several police officials watching and recording certain female performers dancing during the Baba Lat Bhairav baarat proc...