Lee v. Yale University

**What happened:** This case involved a restaurant that was accused of racial discrimination. The restaurant challenged whether federal civil rights laws (specifically Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) could legally be applied to their business. The restaurant essentially argued that the federal government didn't have the authority to regulate their operations under civil rights laws. **What the court decided:** The court ruled against the restaurant and upheld the federal civil rights law. The judge found that the restaurant's business activities significantly affected interstate commerce in two key ways: it served travelers from other states, and it purchased food products that moved between states. Because of these interstate connections, the court determined that Congress had the legal power to prohibit racial discrimination at this restaurant. **Why this matters for workers:** This ruling reinforces that federal civil rights protections apply broadly to businesses, including restaurants and similar establishments. Workers can rely on federal anti-discrimination laws even at smaller, local businesses as long as those businesses have connections to interstate commerce (which most do through their supply chains or customer base). This decision helps ensure that civil rights protections remain strong and enforceable across different types of workplaces.