HBE settled the Orlando case with the NAACP by agreeing to pay almost $2 million to the African American plaintiffs and to Florida (see Black Issues, Jan. 3). Additionally, HBE waived damage claims against any organizations that had canceled meetings in support of the NAACP boycott. It was AACTE's contention in one of its defenses against the Adam's Mark Denver hotel lawsuit that the waiver agreement should have included AACTE.
AACTE officials stand behind their decision to end the contracts and cite financial reasons behind the settlement.
"We fully believe that AACTE's decision to end the contracts was both legally and morally justified in the face of continuing allegations of discriminatory practices throughout the Adam's Mark chain," Imig says. "However," he adds, "the reality is that we are a relatively small nonprofit association whose mission is to ensure high-quality teachers for all students. Our resources need to go toward our mission and not toward litigation initiated by a company that has never taken responsibility or expressed regret for its record of race discrimination. If this settlement is the price of principle, then so be it."
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