The Arkansas House recently approved Senate Bill 520, sending it to the governor’s desk for final approval. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Alyssa Brown and introduced by Sen. Dan Sullivan, aims to prohibit local governments from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This means that city and county governments will no longer be able to consider diversity when making hiring decisions or promoting equity and inclusion efforts.
Sen. Sullivan, also known as “Book Ban Dan,” has been criticized for his past actions, including a law that was ruled unconstitutional for threatening librarians and booksellers with criminal charges. He has been a strong advocate for maintaining white privilege in Arkansas law. The bill banning local DEI initiatives has been met with opposition, with some Democrats arguing for local control to make their own policies.
Rep. Alyssa Brown defended the bill, citing a Supreme Court decision on race-based college admissions and arguing that it is about fairness. She pointed out that similar anti-DEI laws are being implemented at the national and state levels, with support from Republican lawmakers.
Despite the historical marginalization of minority groups in the United States, Arkansas lawmakers believe it is time to move on from diversity efforts. The passing of SB520 reflects a wider trend of anti-DEI laws in Republican-dominated states. However, there are critics who argue that this bill infringes on local government autonomy and limits opportunities for underrepresented communities.
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