(Jan. 13, 2025): Southeastern Legal Foundation celebrates a recent ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Do No Harm v. Pfizer, a case where students, physicians, and healthcare professionals are suing Pfizer on the grounds of race discrimination. The ruling will allow members of Do No Harm to proceed without revealing their identities. Previously, SLF filed a “friend of the court” petition together with a coalition of amici, and it now commends the court’s decision to let this case move forward.
There are no circumstances where job hiring on the basis of race aligns with the constitutional rights of Americans. But that is what Pfizer is trying to do through its fellowship program, which offers internship and employment opportunities to “Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic [or] Native American” minorities. The plaintiffs in this case—many of them college students—chose anonymity in the lawsuit to protect themselves from retaliation but still deserve to have their voices heard and their rights protected. They will now have the opportunity to defend their rights to the very end.
Southeastern Legal Foundation Director of Legal Initiatives Cece O’Leary said, “SLF fights for the constitutional rights of all. It is shameful that the fear of retribution from adding one’s name to a lawsuit deters Americans from defending their civil liberties outlined in the First Amendment. We are grateful the court recognized its error and will now hear Do No Harm’s lawsuit with anonymous plaintiffs. The plaintiffs in this case can now rest assured that they can fight for their rights without fear of retaliation.”
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