A.C.L.U. Must Reinstate Employee Falsely Accused of Racist Language, Court Rules

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The American Civil Liberties Union lost a case about offensive speech and workers’ rights — over its own workplace.

A judge ruled on Wednesday that the A.C.L.U. had illegally fired an employee, Kate Oh, from her job as senior policy counsel. The group had accused her of using language that was racist and that singled out people of color in the office.

A.C.L.U. Must Reinstate Employee Falsely Accused of Racist Language, Court Rules

The case put the legal group on the spot for taking positions on free speech and workers’ rights that seemed at odds with its mission.

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The case placed one of the nation’s leading defenders of workers’ rights under scrutiny for violating the very workplace protections it typically seeks to enforce.

The judge ordered the A.C.L.U. to reinstate Ms. Oh, who was fired in May 2022, and to give her back pay.