Shame on Texas Governor Greg Abbott! On June 14, 2023, one of the nation’s most sweeping bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public universities was signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott! This bill—Senate Bill 17 (SB-17)—effectively jeopardized the future of inclusive learning in the state. The law prohibits universities from establishing or maintaining offices dedicated to DEI. This eliminates dedicated staff and resources focused on promoting diversity and inclusion on campus. The law restricts universities from considering factors like diversity in the hiring process. SB-17 also limits diversity training for faculty and staff, discussions on race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation that could be considered DEI-related! This isn’t just a Texas issue—it’s a dangerous precedent for education nationwide. A concerted effort to dismantle DEI initiatives and roll back decades of hard-won educational equity progress. As of April 2024, at least 8 other states (Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah) have passed similar bans and lawmakers in at least 19 states are pursuing restrictions on diversity initiatives in time for next year’s election cycle. Bans on university diversity efforts is not unique to the “Lone Star State” but provides a bleak glimpse of the future […]

Join us on Saturday, June 8 to defend the freedom to learn. For the past three summers, teachers rallied across the country to speak out against anti-history education bills. The educator-led events received national media attention, providing a valuable counter narrative to the oversized coverage of the well-funded anti-CRT movement. Once again, we invite educators, students, parents, and community members to host an information table or event to defend the right to #TeachTruth — including about Palestine and the rights of LGBTQ+ students. The right has declared war on teaching the truth about structural racism and sexism and on LGBTQ+ youth. Books by Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, and Palestinian American writers are increasingly being banned. While claiming to “protect” young people, the right-wing legislators block any efforts to address gun violence (the leading cause of death for young people) and the existential threat of climate change. In this election year, we need to reach as many people as possible with information about the chilling effect of these laws and how they threaten any chance of an informed and engaged democracy.