Evanston Reparations Committee chair responds to federal lawsuit

Robin Rue Simmons, chair of the Evanston Reparations Committee, addressed public questions surrounding the ongoing federal lawsuit filed against the program during a Zoom meeting held instead of the canceled June Reparations Committee meeting. The suit, filed by non-profit conservative group Judicial Watch on behalf of six plaintiffs, claims the program is unconstitutional and violates the 14th Amendment, which states all Americans are given equal protection under the law. Margot Flinn, Carol Johnson, Stasys Neimanas, Stephen Weiland, Barbara Regard and Henry Regard – all of whom do not identify as Black Americans and state they have links to Evanston from the same period the program bases systemic harms – argue the program is based on race in violation of equal protection. The suit seeks to establish a class of plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit which could number in the tens of thousands and result in over $1 billion in damages, according to Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. Rue Simmons said the city is not wavering in its commitment to the program and has a team of lawyers along with many outside counsel reaching out to provide assistance. “This lawsuit is not a surprise,” she said. “We know the nation...