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Sacramento Museum, $255k Settlement, Keffiyeh Ban

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) reached a $255,000 settlement with the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) in Sacramento, resolving a discrimination complaint filed by a former employee. CRD found that MOSAC discriminated against the employee based on Arab national origin and ancestry by selectively enforcing a dress-code policy targeting the employee's keffiyeh (traditional Arabic headscarf), then subjected the employee to escalating harassment and retaliation after an internal complaint was filed. The museum, without admitting liability, must revoke its political-symbols policy, provide three years of anti-discrimination training, update internal complaint procedures, notify staff and the board of CRD's findings, issue a formal apology, and pay $255,000 in compensation.

Sacramento Museum Settles $255,000 Over Employment Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) announced a $255,000 settlement with the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) to resolve claims of employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against a former employee based on their Arab ancestry. The CRD investigation found that the museum selectively enforced a ban on perceived political symbols, specifically targeting the employee for wearing a traditional keffiyeh. As part of the settlement, MOSAC agreed to rescind its attire policy, provide three years of annual training on civil rights protections, and compensate the former employee.