DUNKIN’ DONUTS: SCLC Accuses Dunkin’ Donuts of Racial Discrimination Against Franchisees

(UnhappyFranchisee.com)  The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) has issued a resolution that it will strongly advocate for African Americans and Women against Dunkin’ Donuts for its alleged violations of the United States Civil Rights Act (42 USC) as well as the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, and for Dunkin’ Donuts’ alleged practices of discrimination, racial steering and its refusal to uphold the United States Civil Rights Act (42 USC).

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is also requesting that Dunkin’ Donuts be required to implement a “Remedial Damages” program or programs to assist African American franchise ownership in economically advantageous areas.

The SCLC resolution was issued in support of a lawsuit being filed against Dunkin’ Donuts by Jerry Marks of Marks & Klein, LLA, on behalf of an African American couple and an Indian American woman who were Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees.

The lawsuit alleges that Dunkin’ Donuts engages in discriminatory franchise practices that deprive African-American and female Indian American franchisees the economically advantageous opportunities afforded to their non-minority franchisees.

(Read about the lawsuit here:  DUNKIN’ DONUTS Accused of Franchise Discrimination Against African Americans)

Southern Christian Leadership Conference resolution against Dunkin’ Donuts was authored and spearheaded by 2012 International Civil Rights Walk of Fame inductee and SCLC Executive Board Member Rev. Dr. E.T. Caviness, and is printed in its entirety below.

 

Pictured above:  SCLC Executive Board Member Rev. E.T. Caviness, who authored and spear-headed SCLC Resolution regarding Dunkin’ Donuts Lawsuit

SCLC Seeks Justice For African Americans And Women In Dunkin’ Donuts Lawsuit

WHEREAS, the 1981 United States Civil Rights Act (42 USC§) Equal Rights Under the Law that All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts…and property as is enjoyed by white citizens…and

WHEREAS, there are about 6990 Dunkin’ locations and less than 10% are owned by African Americans and Dunkin’ Donuts denied an African American couple the right to open multiple Dunkin’ Donuts locations from their home state to open stores in less economically favorable areas in which these stores ultimately failed financially and

WHEREAS, Dunkin’ Donuts representatives lied and falsely indicated to the African American couple that “no SDAs (multi store area development agreements) were available in New York” while it’s a known fact SDAs were given to white and other Non-African American franchise developers and

WHEREAS, Dunkin’s refusal to give African Americans the same opportunities available to white or male franchise developers in the New York regional area constitutes improper racial steering in violations of both Federal Civil Rights and State anti-discrimination laws and

WHEREAS, it is the belief of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that Dunkin’ Donuts improper steering actions with respect to the African American couple violated §1981 the United States Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C.) as well as the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10-5-1 et. seq.) which prohibit discrimination in commercial transactions.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will strongly advocate for African Americans and Women against Dunkin’ Donuts for its violations of the United States Civil Rights Act (42 USC) as well as the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference strongly oppose Dunkin’ Donuts’ practices of Discrimination, Steering and its refusal to uphold the United States Civil Rights Act (42 USC).

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, requests the court(s) to have Dunkin’ Donuts, because of its discrimination practices, be required to implement a “Remedial Damages” program or programs to assist African American franchise ownership in economically advantageous areas, which would be monitored for compliance and efficiency by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and or an oversight committee approved by the  Southern Christian Leadership Conference at the cost of which will be borne exclusively by Dunkin’ Donuts.

For more information, contact:

Rev. Dr. E. T. Caviness, SCLC President & CEO Cleveland Chapter (216) 541-4063;

Marcia L. McCoy, SCLC Executive Director, Cleveland Chapter (216) 374-0913

ARE YOU A DUNKIN’ DONUTS FRANCHISE OWNER OR FRANCHISEE? 

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH DUNKIN’ DONUTS POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN REGARDS TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION? 

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