Jan 17, 2025 Story by: Publisher
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Professors and students from Alabama universities filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, contesting a newly enacted state law that bans diversity programs at universities and restricts discussions of race and gender in college classrooms.
The plaintiffs argue that the law violates the First Amendment by imposing viewpoint-based restrictions on educators’ speech and academic content. The lawsuit also claims the law discriminates against Black students by targeting concepts related to race and racism, curtailing programs designed to support Black students, and dismantling campus spaces dedicated to organizations that advocate for them.
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama filed the suit on behalf of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, along with faculty and students from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The lawsuit calls on a federal judge to declare the law unconstitutional and prevent its enforcement.
“The Alabama Legislature’s censorship of important discussions about race and gender inequalities and its attack on so-called DEI programs are an affront to the constitutional rights of Alabama faculty and students,” stated Antonio L. Ingram II, senior counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. “The harms are particularly salient for Black, and other faculty and students of color, whose histories and lived experiences have been dismissed, devalued, and undermined on their campuses.”
Taking effect on October 1, the Alabama law is part of a national trend where Republican lawmakers have proposed measures targeting DEI initiatives on college campuses. Supporters of the law argue that such programs create divisions and promote specific political ideologies. However, critics view the measure as a regression, dismantling initiatives that provide support for underrepresented student groups. The lawsuit lists Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and university trustees as defendants.
“The governor stands behind this legislation and its intent,” Gina Maiola, a spokesperson for Gov. Ivey, told The Associated Press via text message.
The law prohibits universities, K-12 schools, and state agencies from organizing DEI-related programs, which it defines as activities where participation is based on a person’s race, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, or sexual orientation. It also bars courses and training that promote eight “divisive concepts,” such as assigning guilt based on race or attributing fault or bias to individuals due to their race, religion, gender, or national origin.
The lawsuit highlights numerous effects of the law on academic activities. For example, a social work professor reported being threatened with termination unless she canceled a student project analyzing the law’s potential negative consequences. Additionally, a political science professor stated that her course on poverty was flagged by university officials for possibly violating the law due to its perceived focus on systemic racism.
Following the law’s enactment, universities have closed or rebranded their DEI offices. Lynn L. Cole, spokesperson for the University of Alabama system, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
A similar legal challenge in Florida against the state’s “Stop WOKE” Act saw a federal judge issue a preliminary injunction in 2022, halting portions of the law that limited certain discussions on race in colleges. While the case remains under appeal, the judge overturned parts of the law concerning private businesses in July. Source: US News
