Civil rights leaders, led by Kimberlé Crenshaw, rallied in Washington, D.C., to protest what they perceive as an attack on education, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across the nation.
Reported by The Hill on May 3, 2024, the protesters marched from the Library of Congress to the Supreme Court, highlighting concerns such as book bans and recent Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action and abortion rights.
Crenshaw, co-founder of the African American Policy Forum, criticized the Supreme Court, stating, “It’s gotten into the business of erasure… Diversity, equity, and inclusion is the new moral panic of the nation.”
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Legislative efforts to curtail DEI policies were spotlighted, with 85 bills introduced in 28 states since 2023, 13 of which have become law. Additionally, 153 school districts across 33 states experienced book bans during the 2022-23 academic year, according to PEN America.
Crenshaw emphasized the grave implications of such restrictions, asserting, “Attacks on our knowledge and our literature have reached unprecedented levels… It prevents us from learning about our past to create a better, more inclusive future.”
Wisdom Cole from the NAACP’s Youth and College Division condemned the limitations as an effort to “whitewash history,” echoing concerns within the education system.
A recent Pew Research Center survey revealed teachers’ concerns about state influence over curriculum and the impact of political debates on their profession.
Republican governors like Ron DeSantis and Glenn Youngkin have championed efforts to restrict discussions on race and gender in classrooms, resulting in bans or restrictions in 18 states since 2021, according to Education Week.
In response, Crenshaw rallied for the preservation of democratic values, emphasizing the vital link between education and a healthy democracy. “We’ve got to fight for our right to learn… Without the freedom to learn, we cannot save our democracy,” she declared.
