State legislators in Texas have introduced a bill to abolish “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs in the state university system.
The bill states that higher education institutions shall prohibit the “funding, promotion, sponsorship, or support of any office of diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “any office that funds, promotes, or supports an initiative or formulation of diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond what is necessary to uphold the equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
The bill also notes that higher education institutions have a responsibility to “foster a diversity of viewpoints” and “maintain political, social, and cultural neutrality,” according to the legislation.
Journalist Chris Rufo, a leading voice in the fight against critical race theory in American institutions, tweeted that D.E.I. programs have become offices of racialist ideology, speech suppression, and political indoctrination and deserve zero taxpayer support.
BREAKING: Texas legislators have introduced a bill to abolish "diversity, equity, and inclusion" in the state university system. D.E.I programs have become offices of racialist ideology, speech suppression, and political indoctrination—and deserve zero taxpayer support. pic.twitter.com/vkd5531Uf4
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) December 16, 2022
In a continuing thread, Rufo announced that he and his team are assembling the brightest policy minds in the country to lay siege to the universities about a campaign to abolish Diversity Equity Inclusion (D.E.I.) offices.
Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act.
Desantis said in a press release that Florida was taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory. “We won’t allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other,” he said.
In Florida, we refuse to use tax dollars to teach kids to hate our country or to hate each other, which is why we have eliminated CRT and indoctrination from our classrooms. pic.twitter.com/XGJOgWGd3O
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 7, 2022
The bill prohibits schools and workplaces from any instruction that suggests that any individual, by virtue of their race, color, sex or national origin, “bears responsibility for and must feel guilt, anguish or other forms of psychological distress” on account of historical acts of racism. The bill also forbids education or training that says individuals are “privileged or oppressed” due to their race or sex.
Opponents of the bill alleged the bill was designed to prevent schools and workplaces from discussing racism. In August, a group of eight Florida professors sued representatives of the state higher education system over the bill, calling it “racially motivated censorship.
The bill was partially blocked by Tallahassee U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, an Obama appointee, last month.
