Judge tosses white barbershop owner s challenge to race-based criteria in COVID-19 relief
Etienne Hardre owns Locals Barbershop and Salon. He argued the bill was unconstitutional because it includes race-based classifications to receive funds. Author: Colorado Politics Updated: 7:43 AM MDT April 27, 2021
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. A federal court has thrown out the lawsuit from a white Colorado Springs barbershop owner who challenged the constitutionality of a state COVID-19 relief program because it gave a preference for financial aid to businesses owned by people of color.
>The video above aired in December 2020 when the lawsuit was first filed.
In an April 19 order, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer noted the state has not even finished setting up the program. Therefore, there is no way to know whether Etienne Hardre and his company, Locals Barbershop & Salon, would even have standing to sue.
The lawsuit argues that coronavirus relief funds set aside specifically for minority-owned businesses violates the 14th amendment. Author: Bobbi Sheldon Updated: 6:21 PM MST December 9, 2020
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. A Colorado Springs barbershop owner has sued Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Minority Business Office (CMBO) this week over recently signed COVID-19 legislation aimed at providing relief to minority-owned small businesses in the state.
The lawsuit, filed by Etienne Hardre, who owns Locals Barbershop, argues that the bill is unconstitutional because it includes race-based classifications to receive funding.
A statement from Hardre s attorney, Michael Kuhn, reads in part, Mr. Hardre s lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court to examine whether a race-based classification is consistent to the U.S. Constitution.
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Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 22F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..
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Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 22F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Updated: April 20, 2021 @ 11:01 pm