A civil rights complaint has been filed against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), alleging an upcoming school-supplies giveaway illegally discriminates on the basis of race, color and national origin.
Multiple Facebook posts from the MPS American Indian Education Department have promoted the Aug. 24 and 25 event for students to obtain free backpacks and supplies.
“For MPS American Indian students ONLY,” the posts say, explaining that participating students will need to have a completed Federal 506 form or tribal affiliation identification form.
“In violation of Title VI, the MPS Event illegally excludes certain students based on their race and ethnicity, including students who are Asian, Black, White, and Hispanic,” says the civil rights complaint filed with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
“Please investigate MPS for illegal discrimination in violation of Title VI. As complainant, the remedies I am seeking might include OCR requiring MPS to either (1) cancel the Event or (2) open the Event to all MPS students regardless of their race, ethnicity, color, or national origin,” it adds.
In a letter to the MPS school board and leadership, University of Michigan Professor Emeritus Mark Perry outlined why he filed the civil rights complaint against the district. “As you should be aware, there are no ‘if you have good intentions’ exceptions to Title VI, and segregated programs based on race and ethnicity are illegal even if they allegedly advantage the ‘right’ race for the ‘right’ reasons,” Perry wrote.
“Just as it would be illegal for MPS to host an event that excludes MPS American Indian students, it is equally illegal and objectionable for you to offer a segregated program exclusively for MPS American Indian students that excludes all other MPS students of all races and ethnicities,” he continued. “Title VI isn’t optional, and compliance isn’t voluntary—it’s legally mandated for recipients of federal funds like MPS.”
He went on to suggest that MPS either open the giveaway to all students or cancel the event. “Self-correction of your Title VI violation would allow me to withdraw my complaint at OCR, and I would be happy to do so,” said Perry, who has filed 1,000 civil rights complaints against schools across the country over the years.
In response to a request for comment, MPS provided Alpha News with an FAQ page on the federal recognition of tribes and said that based on that information, “there are different considerations for American Indian students.”
“In collaboration with our partners, the district facilitates several supply giveaways that are open to all MPS students,” the school district said. However, Alpha News was unable to locate any publicly advertised, districtwide school-supply giveaways open to all MPS students for the 2026–27 school year on MPS websites or social media pages.
The flyer for the upcoming giveaway also thanks United Way and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community. The MPS district has previously connected the school-supplies giveaway to United Way.
In a 2020 newsletter, the department thanked United Way and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for donating more than 1,000 backpacks and school supplies “for our MPS American Indian students.” In 2022, the district also posted photos from its backpack giveaway for American Indian students.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
