06/27/2026
Neighbors, y’all see our General Assembly has officially ended Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and programs across state government, public schools, community colleges, and public universities? 👀
Three new laws are now in effect:
1. House Bill 171
Eliminates DEI offices and programs in state and local government agencies and workplaces.
2. Senate Bill 227
Prohibits K–12 public schools from operating DEI offices and restricts instruction on certain “divisive concepts.”
3. Senate Bill 558
Bars public colleges, universities, and community colleges from operating DEI offices or employing dedicated DEI staff. It also requires institutional neutrality policies and eliminates formal campus processes specifically created to report or investigate offensive speech.
Supporters say these laws will keep public institutions politically neutral and focused on merit.
But our institutions have never been truly neutral. American history is filled with examples of laws and policies that excluded people because of their race, s*x, disability, religion, or national origin. After decades of expanding access and opportunity, dismantling these protections feels less like neutrality and more like retreat. It is shortsighted, petty, and, in my view, deeply un-American.
Despite the narrative, these programs and protections were never just for Black people. They benefit veterans, people with disabilities, religious minorities, women, first-generation college students, and countless others.
Every student, employee, and neighbor deserves protection from discrimination, fair access to opportunity, and reasonable accommodations when needed.
Vote. Enroll. Divest appropriately.