Lawsuit Exposes Racist Colorado COVID Aid

We noted this in an earlier report on Colorado’s COVID stimulus bills, but a new lawsuit brings the issue into full focus: Colorado business assistance passed in the recent 2020 General Assembly Special Session specifically denies the availability of $4 million of funding to white-owned businesses.

Locals Barbershop of Colorado Springs sued Governor Dear Leader Jared Polis and the Colorado Minority Business Office on the basis that assistance funding had race-based conditions, which is a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment.

Etienne Harde, the owner of Locals Barbershop, says the business would like to apply for economic assistance from the state, but that a portion of the economic relief payments is “currently reserved exclusively for minority-owned business.” The lawsuit reads, “SB1 appropriates $4 million for COVID-19 relief payments for minority-owned businesses,”  and “excluded from this appropriation are businesses owned and operated by Caucasians. These businesses are excluded from participating in these relief payments for no reason other than the racial identities of the business owners.”

While the restricted funds only represent 7% of the total funding allocated, it remains to be seen why the Colorado government is comfortable with 7% racism in their business assistance efforts.

That the distribution of business assistance in the COVID-19 Relief for Small & Minority Businesses/Arts Organizations is racist is undeniably true. Whether the lawsuit will persuade whatever liberal judge adjudicates the case remains to be seen.