Alabama Governor Signs Another Law Aimed at Keeping Southern Blacks Down and Out

Kansas may be taking a page out of Alabama’s book after it shamefully became the latest state to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. On Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that forbids those programs in public colleges and offices.

The bill, SB 129, mandates that DEI offices and initiatives that are funded by public colleges or government agencies be dramatically changed or removed altogether. In addition, it aims to stifle academic lessons that center gender, race, or identity (the bill refers to them as “divisive concepts”).

Kansas is aiming to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on university campuses across the country. However, state lawmakers drafted their proposals to avoid having to agree on how to define DEI.

In a statement, Gov. Ivey said that her administration does appreciate diversity—but only on their terms. She explained:

“My Administration has and will continue to value Alabama’s rich diversity, however, I refuse to allow a few bad actors on college campuses – or wherever else for that matter – to go under the acronym of DEI, using taxpayer funds, to push their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe. We have already taken action to prevent this in our K-12 classrooms, and I am pleased to sign SB129 to protect our college campuses. Supporting academic freedom, embracing diversity of cultures and backgrounds and treating people fairly are all key components of what we believe in Alabama, and I am more than confident that will continue.”

Furthermore, these forbidden “concepts” are categorized as teachings that administer “fault, blame or bias” and imply that certain groups of people are “inherently responsible for actions committed in the past.” The bill also bans transgender people from using public bathrooms that align with their gender identities.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama said SB 129 will have “a chilling effect on discourse regarding race, class, sexuality, and national origin, and seeks to characterize these discussions and accurate teachings, assignments, and trainings that also supplement them as ‘divisive.’”

Alabama joins states like Florida and Texas in enacting such harmful legislation. The law goes into effect on October 1.