A Latina businesswoman in Oregon, Maria Garcia filed a lawsuit alleging the Oregon Legislature Emergency Board acted unconstitutionally when it declared that $62 million of a $200 million government fund to help small businesses hit by COVID-19 could only go to black-owned businesses or black families.

Garcia, owner of a business called Revolución Coffee, had closed shop for three months due to COVID, and she needed help. “It violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution that requires that people who are similarly situated be treated similarly,” says James Huffman, professor and dean emeritus at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland.

Call the Oregon Legislature Emergency Board at 503-986-1828​ and urge them to open the $200 million government relief fund to people of all races.