Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
Not only do Black state Democratic lawmakers oppose passage of a proposed Republican-sponsored anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) measure introduced in the N.C. House recently, they fear it.
“[This bill could] …impeach me from office because I’m Black,” charged state Sen. Kandie Smith (D - Greenville), chair of the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus, during a Feb. 27th press conference.
“If I’m teaching anybody about how I grew up, what I learned in life — as far as me and my ancestors — I can be impeached,” Sen. Smith continued.
House Bill 171, if ratified by the N.C. General Assembly, not only would outlaw all state and local governments from implementing any DEI policies and practices, imposing criminal penalties if prohibition is violated, but also states that elected officials could be impeached for failure to comply with the law.
“A State officer or employee who violates this section [of the law] is subject to removal from office or employment,” HB 171 states under section 126-14.7.
Because the measure is sponsored by House Majority Leader Brenden Jones (R- Tabor City), observers say it is expected to sail through committee quickly before being ratified by the full House, then sent to the state Senate.
House Speaker Destin Hall (R) says he also supports the measure. Meanwhile, House Democrats counter that Republicans overall are pushing anti-DEI bills to distract from the damage they’re doing to the government, both in Washington and in Raleigh.
The only leverage Democrats have legislatively is that Republicans in the House do not have a supermajority, meaning that they cannot override a veto from Gov. Josh Stein, unless they’re able to cajole at least one Democrat to join them. That means all House Democrats have to be present for every House session and stick together if a veto override vote is taken.
Over in the state Senate on Monday, the top Republican has filed Senate Bill 227 titled “Eliminating DEI in Public Education.” Senate pro term Republican leader Phil Berger said in a press release, “We cannot teach our nation’s history without acknowledging our past. But we can teach history without forcing our educators and students to embrace and adopt ideologies inconsistent with equality.”
Also on Monday night, the full U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination by Pres. Trump of North Carolina native and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. founder Linda McMahon to become secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Education.
McMahon, 76, will be tasked with helping to close the federal agency down during her tenure.
Published reports indicate that North Carolina Republicans are considering duplicating the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) Washington, D.C. efforts pushed by billionaire Elon Musk to also purge the state government of alleged waste, fraud and abuse.
Editor’s Note: Anti-DEI in combination with the phrase “waste, fraud and abuse,” is coded derogatory language primarily by conservatives aimed to disenfranchise Black and Brown people, women, LGBTQ+, anyone with a disability, and anyone who is not a White male from society.
