TUCSON, Ariz. — Editor's Note: The above video is from a broadcast in 2021.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office says the city of Tucson has violated state law by implementing "discriminatory" vaccine mandates and is taking legal action to change the municipality's personnel policies.
Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Tuesday his office had filed a lawsuit against Tucson, accusing city officials of violating the civil rights of its 4,000 employees by requiring them to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Last August, Tucson instructed its workers to get the vaccine or submit a request for religious accommodation or medical exemption. Not complying with the mandate could have resulted in disciplinary action.
Brnovich's office says the mandate contained confusing language as to when employees had to submit exemptions for the vaccine.
Because of this confusion, AAGO says city employees were subjected to unpaid periods of suspensions from their jobs.
"Many of those affected are first responders, and it’s our turn to be there for them," Brnovich said in a statement. "The city’s misguided vaccine mandate is an ugly example of government overreach that we must vigorously oppose."
The lawsuit asks the courts to compel Tucson to compensate workers who were suspended due to the mandate and force the city to issue a public apology.
A spokesman for Tucson said “the city will not comment on the merits, or the lack of merits, of pending litigation.”
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