Mastodawn

US judge refuses to block venture capital fund's grants for #BlackWomen

A #federal #judge in #Atlanta on Tues rejected a bid by the #AntiAffirmativeAction activist behind the successful #SCOTUS challenge to #race-conscious #CollegeAdmissions policies to bar a small #VentureCapital fund (#VC) from awarding #grants to businesses run by #Black #women.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-judge-refuses-block-venture-capital-funds-grants-black-women-2023-09-26/

US judge refuses to block venture capital fund's grants for Black women

A federal judge in Atlanta on Tuesday rejected a bid by the anti-affirmative activist behind the successful U.S. Supreme Court challenge to race-conscious college admissions policies to bar a small venture capital fund from awarding grants to businesses run by Black women.

Reuters

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Nonilex Sep 26, 2023

U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash during a hearing denied a request by #EdwardBlum's #AmericanAllianceForEqualRights for a preliminary #injunction blocking #FearlessFund from considering applications for #grants only from businesses led by #BlackWomen.

(#Blum is a #conservative #legal strategist known for his activism against #AffirmativeAction)

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Nonilex Sep 26, 2023

#Blum's group had asked the #judge to temporarily #block the #FearlessFund's "racially exclusive program" while the court considered the merits of the case. The judge said he would issue a written decision later.

With a Sat deadline approaching for this year's #grant applications, Blum, who is #white, said his group will pursue an emergency appeal at the Atlanta-based #11thCircuit Court of Appeals.

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Nonilex Sep 26, 2023

#FearlessFund founders #ArianSimone & #AyanaParsons in a joint statement said they were pleased that Thrash rejected #Blum's attempt to shut down their #grant program.

"We realize there is still a long road ahead, but today we remain fearless & steadfast in creating pathways that #empower #women of #color #entrepreneurs," Simone & Parsons said.

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Nonilex Sep 26, 2023

The #lawsuit is 1 of 3 that #Blum's #Texas-based group had filed since Aug challenging #grant & #fellowship programs designed by the venture capital fund & 2 #law firms to help give #Black, #Hispanic & other underrepresented minority grps greater #career #opportunities.

A different grp founded by Blum was behind the litigation that led to the June decision, powered by #SCOTUS's 6-3 #conservative majority, declaring #race-conscious student admissions policies used by Harvard & the UNC unlawful.