A group led by conservative Edward Blum, known for his court victory that ended affirmativeaction in college admissions in the United States is filing a lawsuit against the director of the future National Museum of Latin America. The reason for the lawsuit is an internship program designed to increase the representation of Hispanics/Latinos in prominent positions in museums. According to the complaint, the internship program allegedly violates the U.S. Constitution as it would have hired only interns who identify as Latino, excluding non-Latino applicants.

According to an NBC News article, “Blum announced the lawsuit filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) in a news release Friday, alleging the program violates the Constitution because it is ‘not equally open to non-Latinos’. The lawsuit names Jorge Zamanillo, the Latino museum's director, and Crosby Kemper, the Smithsonian's director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services”.

Blum argues that considering race and ethnicity harms Americans who want to participate in the program but who do not fit those criteria. He argues that all students interested in the field of museum studies should have the opportunity to apply for an internship, regardless of their race. Blum's statement describes the reservation of participation based on specific races as unfair and illegal, calling for an end to these discriminatory programs, CNN News reports.

Blum’s lawsuit against the Smithsonian is just one of several legal challenges he has faced recently, including a successful case before the Supreme Court that affected affirmative action. In addition, Blum is embroiled in legal disputes with the Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund focused on women of color, and has previously sued law firms over their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to CNN News.

These lawsuits come against a broader backdrop of attacks against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the United States, raising concerns about the impact on efforts to promote more inclusive and equitable work environments.