When state employees acting in personal capacity violate 14th Amendment Equal Protection rights of a protected group member, can 42 U.S.C. 1983 be used as a private remedy in federal court?

Question Presented | (1) When state employees acting in their personal capacity rather than agents of the state, violate the | 14th Amendment Equal Protection rights of a citizen who is a member.of a protected group established under the Age Discrimination and Title Vil Retaliation =~ I laws, can the civil action 42 U.S.C. 1983 be used as a , private remedy in federal court for violation of their 14th r} Amendment Equal Protection Clause right? | i Ill.