TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Nov 7, 2025

A national group that seeks to end affirmative action is threatening to sue Knox County. According to Knox News, the American Alliance for Equal Rights emailed each member of the county commission on Nov. 4 saying the county’s “supplier-diversity program” violates the U.S. Constitution. The county program helps develop small businesses and minority, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses. The alliance cited contract language encouraging vendors to include minority-owned businesses and argued such provisions amount to “race- and sex-based preferences.” County officials note the program’s language is largely drawn from federal policies established under Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. The group's founder Edward Blum, who also founded Students for Fair Admissions, has previously led successful legal challenges to race-based programs.