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The Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division is investigating the firing of Diane Crawford, a former bus driver in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, who was terminated after posting a sign that prohibited speaking Spanish on her bus. The sign read, "Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus." Crawford stated that she put up the sign due to a bilingual student who was reportedly causing disruptions by speaking Spanish.
Crawford, who is 66 years old, expressed her surprise at losing her job over the sign, saying she did not anticipate such severe consequences. She shared with CBS 21 that the termination has had significant personal impacts, leaving her reliant on Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP benefits. "I had to go on antidepressants because of this," Crawford said, describing her situation as a "nightmare."
The Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus, the company that contracted Crawford, conducted an investigation and concluded that her actions did not meet the standards expected of student transportation providers. They stated that training was provided by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission following Crawford's termination.
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, announced the DOJ's investigation on social media, citing concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues. The announcement has sparked a range of public reactions, with some supporting Crawford and others criticizing the DOJ's involvement.
Crawford expressed gratitude for the community support she has received, despite feeling that her long-standing dedication to her job was overlooked by her employers. The DOJ's investigation will examine whether Crawford's firing violated civil rights laws.