DOJ Civil Rights Division Opens Probe After Diane Crawford, Fired Bus Driver, Posted “English‑Only” Sign
The U.S. Department of Justice opened a Civil Rights probe after Diane Crawford, a Juniata County school bus driver fired for posting an “English‑only” sign. Crawford says she aimed to stop bullying, not target students’ language.
- Federal review: The DOJ Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation after a public complaint and social media attention led by Harmeet Dhillon. ABCNews4
- Local discipline: Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus Service said the posted sign violated transportation standards and followed a review that resulted in Crawford’s contract termination. Local 21 News
- Community impact: Crawford — a 35‑year driver who says she intended to curb bullying — is seeking compensation and a formal admission of wrongdoing; a petition to rehire her gained local support. Local 12
Background: a long career and a short‑notice firing
Diane Crawford drove school buses in Juniata County for more than 35 years, including roughly 12 years as an owner‑operator under Rohrer Bus Service. She says the sign — which read “Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus.” — was posted after she says a bilingual student repeatedly riled up other children and directed name‑calling at peers and at her, including the Spanish word “gordo” (meaning “fat”). Local 21 News
Crawford has said she regrets the wording and would have preferred a message such as “no bullying in any language.” She told reporters the note was intended as a safety and discipline tool, not a racial attack:
“How do you keep control of your bus if you have no control?”
The firing and the review timeline
Crawford says she received an overnight call from her supervisor informing her that her contract had been ended; she says she was not suspended first and was not given an opportunity to explain. School district and Rohrer officials said the decision followed a joint review and noted that initial communications mentioned a suspension pending investigation but that final action came “without delay.” ABCNews4
After the incident, the district arranged training on April 17, 2025, conducted by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission covering employer responsibilities, student equity and incident protocols. The district and Rohrer emphasized follow‑up training and equity work for staff.
DOJ Civil Rights Division opens probe
U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she had directed the Civil Rights Division to open an investigation into the termination, framing the case as raising concerns about “DEI wokeness.” The federal probe will examine whether civil rights laws were violated in the firing and whether students’ or employees’ rights were affected. ABCNews4
Crawford’s account and demands
Crawford says the firing has had severe effects on her health and finances: she reports relying on Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP, taking antidepressants, and calling the episode a “nightmare” after decades of service to local children and families. She is seeking $30,000 to cover a 2024 purchase of a bus and her route, wants a formal admission of wrongdoing by the district and Rohrer, and requests relief from related debt. A petition to rehire her collected more than 1,000 signatures. Local 21 News
Public, school and media reaction
The case drew national attention after local interviews and video coverage circulated online. Social media reaction to the DOJ announcement included both support for Crawford and criticism of the department for opening a probe. Local broadcasters produced interviews and reports; a related online video report is available.
Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus Service issued statements defending their review and the goal of maintaining safe school transportation, saying the review was based on standards for student conduct and staff behavior and noting the follow‑up training provided. ABCNews4
Legal and policy questions in play
The investigation raises several legal and policy questions, including whether Crawford’s sign and the district’s response constitute unlawful discrimination against Spanish‑speaking students or employees, and whether the district followed its own disciplinary procedures — such as suspension and a formal investigation — before ending a contract. The DOJ Civil Rights Division will assess these issues as part of the probe. ABCNews4
Implications for the Imperial Valley, California
For regions like the Imperial Valley — home to a large Spanish‑speaking population — the case offers several lessons:
- School policy and student safety: Districts should review bus conduct rules and anti‑bullying policies and give drivers clear, non‑exclusionary tools for handling language‑based disputes. Local 21 News
- Training and compliance: The Pennsylvania district arranged training by the state human relations commission after the incident; Imperial Valley districts may face similar pressure to provide cultural competency and legal‑obligation training. ABCNews4
- Community trust and communications: In bilingual communities, language policy is sensitive; clear communication with parents and staff about expectations, discipline processes and complaint channels can prevent escalations. Local 12
- Legal exposure: Federal attention — signaled by the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s involvement — shows local disciplinary actions can attract national scrutiny, particularly when language use or cultural expression is implicated. ABCNews4
Sources
Reporting and interviews compiled from Times Media Service; coverage by ABCNews4, Local 21 News, Local 12, and a related video report.
