COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A Colorado Springs activist said the head of Harrison School District 2 is a racist, but the district said they won't allow themselves to be bullied.
James Tucker, the publisher of the African American Voice, said Harrison School District 2 is racist because they don't advertise with his paper.
But D-2 superintendent Mike Miles said the paper is a tabloid of misinformation and hate. Not only does Miles refuse to advertise with the Voice, he is publicly calling for others to pull their ads from the paper.
The letter at the heart of the debate is dated Nov. 2 and is on district letterhead. It's written by Mike Miles and essentially calls for an advertising boycott of the African American Voice.
"When you advertise with white media and you don't advertise with black media, that's called discrimination," Tucker said.
Tucker said after seeing Miles' letter he filed a discrimination complaint against Miles with the U.S. Department of Justice.
"Mr. Tucker's allegations are completely baseless, and he believes anyone who does not advertise in his paper is a 'racist,'" Miles said in a statement. "He has made this claim of numerous businesses and organizations throughout the city. We will not allow him to intimidate us into advertising in his paper."
Tucker said Miles' actions violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
"I had to show him that there is a law that requires school districts and other institutions basically give information to the community and also advertise," Tucker said.
While it is true that the Civil Rights Act says no organization getting federal funding may engage in discrimination, it's not clear anything District 2 or Miles has done meets the federal definition of discrimination.
"We are asking Mike Miles to apologize and stop the lies," Tucker said.
We'll keep an eye on the civil rights complaint and let you know what the Department of Justice decides.
What do you think? Is this racial discrimination or just a difference of opinions? Comment below and tell us your thoughts.
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