by Kandiss Edwards
December 13, 2025
The plaintiffs are in search of damages for alleged interference with their potential to function and earn income.
A federal civil rights lawsuit in search of $70 million alleges Missouri’s Westport Group Enchancment District conspired to exclude Black enterprise homeowners from considered one of Kansas Metropolis’s hottest leisure districts.
Native civil rights teams are throwing their help behind the case. Euphoric LLC, UniKC LLC and The Sourze LLC filed the lawsuit in federal court docket earlier this yr. The swimsuit alleges the Westport CID and property homeowners used discriminatory practices to dam Black-led ventures within the Westport leisure district. The plaintiffs are in search of $70 million in damages for alleged interference with their potential to function and earn income.
The lawsuit claims Westport’s governing board questions potential tenants about the kind of music they plan to function and the group they count on. Moreover, the governing board inquires whether or not the enterprise will entice “Hip-Hop crowds,” allegations that plaintiffs say replicate biased gatekeeping.
Christopher Lee, one of many enterprise homeowners suing the CID, instructed KCTV 5, “I paid my deposit. I gave them an idea. It wasn’t adequate,” after he mentioned he met necessities however was denied the chance to open his enterprise.
Gwen Grant, president and chief govt officer of the City League of Higher Kansas Metropolis, mentioned civil rights teams hope elevated consideration will “add weight” to the case, “she mentioned. “Now, individuals are going to be watching, and we have to elevate this up now earlier than they put much more consideration on us around the globe,” she mentioned, referring to Kansas Metropolis’s choice to host worldwide occasions.
The Westport Group Enchancment District issued a press release responding to the lawsuit and civil rights help, strongly refuting the allegations.
In its assertion, the Group Enchancment District mentioned, “The Westport Group Enchancment District strongly refutes the allegations made by Euphoric, Unikc, and The Sourze. Whereas we will’t focus on energetic litigation, we’re assured the info will present these claims are with out benefit. Westport is considered one of Kansas Metropolis’s most various and welcoming districts. For many years, individuals of all backgrounds have lived, labored and opened companies right here. Variety isn’t only a worth we consider in—it’s good enterprise and a key cause Westport stays a vibrant vacation spot.”
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