A stunning legal challenge has erupted within the Michigan State Department, as four Black employees have filed a civil lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and key staff. The charges are severe: blatant racial discrimination and a deeply toxic work environment.
The lawsuit, filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, alleges a “widespread” pattern of retaliation against Black employees who dared to speak out against discriminatory practices. Plaintiffs David Murray, Elvine Vanbolden, Mychael Foster, and former high-ranking official Nirva Civilus detail a disturbing reality within the department.
This isn’t an isolated incident. A previous employee, Angela Harness, received a $775,000 settlement in 2024 after alleging a “racially hostile environment,” a case quietly resolved with little public acknowledgment.
The complaint paints a picture of a double standard, where Black workers are held to impossible expectations while their white colleagues face far less scrutiny. Denied promotions, subjected to endless “improvement plans,” and targeted with investigations – all without clear, consistent policies.
Former Assistant Secretary of State Heaster Wheeler, though not a plaintiff, provided a powerful affidavit detailing rampant racial discrimination as a key reason for his departure in 2024. He described a lack of clear rules and training, leading to “biased application” of departmental policies.
The timing of this lawsuit is particularly striking. It arrived the same day Michigan’s first Black lieutenant governor announced he would not be running for Secretary of State, and just before the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus endorsed Benson’s gubernatorial bid.
Benson’s office immediately dismissed the claims as “absolutely false,” asserting a commitment to non-discrimination. However, the plaintiffs’ detailed accounts suggest a starkly different experience.
Nirva Civilus alleges she was pressured to fire elderly employees based on age and faced retaliation – including pay docking and threats – when she refused. She was then targeted with a sham performance plan centered on “vehicle misuse” leading to her eventual firing.
David Murray was passed over for a promotion in favor of a less experienced white colleague and subsequently faced increased scrutiny and accusations of vehicle misuse, despite receiving no training on related policies.
Mychael Foster, a 22-year veteran, experienced an extended performance plan that blocked raises and opportunities, leading to emotional and physical distress and ultimately, eight months of sick leave.
Elvine Vanbolden was reportedly labeled “racist” by a white director for hiring a Black candidate, then penalized on performance reviews for not adhering to “DEI policy.” This raises serious questions about the department’s commitment to equity.
This lawsuit presents a profound challenge to Jocelyn Benson’s public image as a champion of diversity and civil rights. It forces a reckoning with the alleged realities within her own department, and raises questions about the sincerity of her commitment to equality.
