Multicultural Bridge among civil rights organizations suing U.S. Department of Justice

GREAT BARRINGTON — Multicultural Bridge is among 11 civil rights and community groups suing the U.S. Department of Justice to stop what they call the unlawful dismantling of a federal office that mediates racial and community conflicts.
The Trump administration has escalated efforts over the past year to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. These include breaking apart the Community Relations Service, which works with local governments, law enforcement agencies and community organizations to resolve racial conflicts and prevent hate-related violence, largely without publicity. 
Over the last 15 years, Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups and Education, known as Bridge, has relied on the federal agency for different initiatives and training for conflict resolution, Gwendolyn VanSant, executive director of Multicultural Bridge, said.
At a ribbon-cutting at Multicultural Bridge's new Solidarity Meeting House in Great Barrington in May, co-founder and CEO Gwendolyn VanSant and Macedonia Baptist Church Pastor Mattie Conway celebrate with other guests. The organization joined 11 civil rights and community groups that are suing the U.S. Department of Justice.
THE BERKSHIRE EAGLEMost recently, Bridge partnered with CRS for a program at W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School. But when the organization requested support for a similar program in Stockbridge, the government agency declined because of the agency’s “winddown.”
“We've always partnered with the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division,” VanSant said. “They've been our guides. They've trained us. Sometimes in a rural community, the relationships are too close, so it's good to have the objective outsider.”
THE PLAINTIFFSMulticultural Bridge is among 11 civil rights and community groups suing the U.S. Department of Justice. Here is a list of the plaintiffs:

• Ethical Society of Police
• NAACP St. Louis County
• Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri
• Two Wrasslin’ Cats Accord
• Out Accountability Project
• Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups and Education (BRIDGE)
• NAACP State Conference Colorado-Montana-Wyoming
• Peacemakers Lodge
• Pikes Peak Southern Christian Leadership Conference 1
• Wellspring Health Access
• Haitian Community Help & Support Center

Bridge is one of 11 plaintiffs for whom the Washington Litigation Group filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. It asked the court to force the government to reopen and staff the Community Relations Service agency while the case continues.
"This case concerns the Executive Branch's efforts to dismantle a congressionally-created civil rights agency and then rewrite history to hide the government's nakedly unlawful actions," the motion says.
The lawsuit states that every day the agency remains closed "directly undermines Bridge’s mission to reduce tension and promote constructive dialogue among youth." There are no alternative resources in Western Massachusetts that have the same experience and capacity to support Bridge's efforts, the lawsuit says.
The process to dissolve the agency started in March when Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a memo that proposed eliminating the Community Relations Service and moving staff to the U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Throughout the spring, the agency stopped accepting new requests and withdrew from active mediation and conflict resolution services.
“All year, we have not been able to have that resource and they feel like Bridge is a trusted resource to them, too,” VanSant said. “But it's been a loss for us and for our community.”
In June, according to the lawsuit, the DOJ published a fiscal 2026 Budget and Performance Summary stating that the department would eliminate 56 positions and formally close all Community Relations Service offices by the end of the fiscal year, saying its peacekeeping mission did not align with the “Attorney General and Administration law enforcement and litigating priorities.”
In September, 14 of the 15 remaining active employees at the federal office received reduction-in-force notices that would go into effect Oct. 31. A continuing resolution was passed by Congress on Nov. 12 that funded the Community Relations Service through January and ordered that any reduction-in-force notices that went into effect after Oct. 1 be rescinded. But that didn’t happen and on Nov. 25, the motion for preliminary injunction was filed.
“By shutting down CRS unilaterally and unlawfully, the government has cut off critical support just when it is most needed,” Washington Litigation Group senior counsel Kyle R. Freeny said in a press release. “This motion is about restoring that support — and protecting the people who depend on it.”
Multicultural Bridge has lost significant funding because it is a civil rights organization focused on diversity, equity and inclusion — policies the Trump administration has said it does not support, VanSant said.
“It's been a really hard year,” Gwendolyn VanSant said of the Trump administration's attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and funding. “This is a call for all of us to be conscious and connected.”
Ben Garver“We were really impacted, so we very much identify with our constituents that we try to serve, because our organization itself was really impacted this year,” VanSant said. “And I think what's been our saving grace has been really involved, passionate, caring community members.”
Throughout the partnership, Bridge and CRS have leaned on each other, VanSant said.
“For us, it's a major issue, because we don't do easy work,” VanSant said. “It's been nice to have that partnership, and then for the whole country, this is a big loss.