Amazon class action alleges company discriminates against Asians, Whites, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders

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Amazon class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Four plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit against Amazon.com Inc.
• Why: They allege the Amazon Diversity Grant program discriminates against entrepreneurs who are ot Black, Latino, or Native American.
• Where: The Amazon class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

Amazon.com Inc.’s “Diversity Grant” program discriminates against entrepreneurs who are not Black, Latino, or Native American, according to a class action lawsuit filed in California federal court.

Plaintiffs Luciano Alexandre, Christine Louise Johnson, Eric Nelson, and Nam Be claim that the Amazon Diversity Grant program is available only to Black, Latino, and Native American entrepreneurs seeking contracts as Amazon delivery service partners (DSPs). 

Amazon allegedly provides $10,000 in additional consideration to these groups as part of their contracts but instructs other groups including Asian, White, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander entrepreneurs they are not eligible to apply for the same type of DSP contracts.

Amazon diversity grants deny ‘full and equal opportunity’ for all entrepreneurs, plaintiffs allege

When applying to become an Amazon DSP, prospective applicants are reportedly asked whether they would be interested in receiving a $10,000 Amazon diversity grant. However, the only race and ethnicity options are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American/Indigenous, the Amazon class action lawsuit explains.

“Thus, in applying with Amazon for a DSP contract, Asian, White, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander people are denied the full and equal opportunity for the $10,000 contract consideration,” the plaintiffs argue in the Amazon class action lawsuit.

“If Amazon held a sincere ‘Commitment to Diversity’ it would commit to providing the same DSP contracts with the same consideration to all entrepreneurs, no matter their race or skin color,” the plaintiffs assert.

The Amazon class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act and violations of California Civil Code section 51.5. The plaintiffs have asked for statutory damages, an order requiring Amazon officers and employees to undergo diversity, inclusion, and equity training, and other relief the court deems proper.

This is not the first Amazon class action lawsuit to say the online retailer discriminates against certain groups. Earlier this year, Amazon asked a judge to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging it discriminates against heterosexual white male sellers by allowing consumers to search for products sold by non-white sellers.

Do you think the Amazon Diversity Grant discriminates against certain groups? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

The plaintiffs are represented by Greg Adler of Greg Adler PC and Alfred G. Rava of Rava Law Firm.

The Amazon discrimination class action lawsuit is Luciano Alexandre, et al. v. Amazon.com Inc., et al., Case No. 3:22-cv-01459-MMA-WVG, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

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