BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) separated employees by race for a series of taxpayer-funded equity meetings, according to internal documents obtained by Spotlight on Maryland through a public information request.
Records show the agency paid outside consultants to conduct racial equity training and then advised BCHD to host separate “white caucus” and “people of color caucus” meetings. The practice – carried out inside Baltimore City government and funded with public dollars – has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights leaders, legal experts, and community members who say it risks deepening division and raises legal and ethical concerns.
The documents offer a rare, detailed look at how a major city agency implemented race-based employee programming under the banner of equity at a time when governments nationwide are facing heightened scrutiny over race-conscious policies and compliance with civil rights laws…