Minnesota Lawsuit Alleges Bus Racial Discrimination

Xavier Davis, a Black man, has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit in Hennepin County against Jefferson Lines and a bus driver after he and another Black passenger were told to sit in the back of a nearly empty bus during a 2023 trip from Fargo, North Dakota, to Minnesota, while white passengers were allowed to choose their seats. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights found probable cause for discrimination and noted that the driver's actions were not supported by company policy. The driver claimed that the men smelled of marijuana, but investigators found this explanation unsubstantiated and racially stereotyped. Davis's attorney referenced the historical parallel to Rosa Parks’ 1955 bus incident, emphasizing the ongoing fight against segregation. Attempts at out-of-court mediation failed, prompting the lawsuit, in which Davis seeks $50,000 in damages. Jefferson Lines has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings but stated it will address the matter through legal channels.