Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Monday, April 20, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Member April McClain Delaney (MD-06) led a letter to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas expressing DWC’s deep concern with the EEOC’s recent lawsuit that accused a Coca-Cola distributor of discrimination because the company hosted a networking and professional development event for women employees.

In 2024, a Coca-Cola bottling distributor hosted a professional development event for women. In 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the Coca-Cola distributor, alleging it discriminated against its male employees by hosting the women’s networking event. The lawsuit is another example of the Trump administration’s campaign to attack women, dismantle civil rights protections, and mischaracterize equity as discrimination. The EEOC is supposed to use its resources to promote equal opportunities, not rip support away from women.

In their letter, the Members explained why prioritizing programs and opportunities that support working women is key to developing a strong workforce.

“Across industries, women face persistent structural barriers, underrepresentation in leadership, and unequal advancement opportunities–these are the issues the EEOC should dedicate their resources to confront. In many workplaces, women are a distinct minority. For generations, informal ‘old boys’ networks’ operated as de facto gatekeepers to opportunity. Women were not merely absent from these spaces–we were actively excluded. That’s why we are especially concerned by public statements suggesting that women-focused professional gatherings are analogous to exclusionary practices of the past. Such comparisons ignore context, history, and intent, and risk discouraging employers from supporting the advancement of underrepresented groups altogether. Women should not be penalized, directly or indirectly, for coming together to support one another’s professional growth. Nor should employers be deterred from facilitating those efforts in good faith. Efforts to create professional forums for connection, mentorship, and professional development are not exclusionary; they are a measured and necessary response to the stark realities women face in the workplace.”

The Members close their letter by urging the EEOC recenter its work on meaningful enforcement of civil rights laws. 

“Women continue to face several systematic barriers and disparities in the workplace that require the EEOC’s resources and attention. The EEOC’s misguided prioritization to attack equal opportunity efforts is an irresponsible use of its very limited resources. We need an EEOC that confronts real, systemic violations of civil rights, not one that searches for isolated cases to fit a predetermined narrative. That is why we urge the EEOC to center its work on meaningful enforcement of civil rights laws. We stand united in our belief, not only as lawmakers but as people who have lived these experiences, that advancing opportunity for women is not only lawful, it is essential.”

Read the letter here. 

In addition to letter lead April McClain Delaney, the letter was signed by Teresa Leger Fernández, Becca Balint, Danny Davis, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Adelita Grijalva, Val Hoyle, Doris Matsui, April McClain Delaney, Eleanor Norton, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Norma Torres, Nydia Velázquez, and Frederica Wilson.