ATLANTA — Today, a group of civil rights organizations sent a letter urging Georgia lawmakers to reject Senate Bill 120 (SB120), a proposed bill before the State Legislature which seeks to ban diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and programs from Georgia’s K-12 schools and higher education institutions. The organizations assert that SB120 poses a significant threat to Georgia’s student population and call on state lawmakers to reaffirm DEIA policies that prevent and address unfair barriers to access and opportunity in education. The civil rights organizations include the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), ACLU of Georgia, Georgia Educators for Equity & Justice (GAEEJ), the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda, and the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA).
In their letter, the organizations explain that SB120, if passed, could have a host of devastating consequences for Georgia’s students, staff, and faculty, including:
- Removal of billions of dollars of federal funding found to be in violation of the legislation.
- Reduced access to programs designed to address inequities within the public educational system, particularly for students of color and low-income students.
- Elimination of scholarships, internships, training programs, and mentorships for students supported by DEIA initiatives.
- Increased instances of racial and LGBTQIA+ discrimination and harassment.
- Risk of reduced retention and graduation rates.
“Contrary to the promises of freedom and equality enshrined in both the United States and Georgia State Constitutions, anti-DEIA measures like SB120 are a thinly-veiled attempt to reverse the progress towards racial justice that, for generations, we have fought to achieve for Black and other historically marginalized communities,” said Hamida Labi, Senior Policy Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. “For so many, policies and programs for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility—especially in education—serve as a gateway to opportunity, addressing systemic barriers and ensuring fairer access to resources and a greater sense of belonging. We urge state lawmakers to vote no to SB120 in the best interest of Georgia’s students and their futures.”
"Across the country, we are seeing state legislatures introduce anti-DEI legislation like SB120 as part of a larger backlash against racial justice and civil rights,” said Christopher Bruce, Policy and Advocacy Director at the ACLU of Georgia. “The ACLU of Georgia strongly opposes SB120 because it unfairly limits free speech and open discussion in schools. This bill puts students’ and educators’ rights at risk, restricting their ability to express ideas, form student groups, and learn about different perspectives. While we are disappointed that this bill has advanced out of committee, we are standing by ready to oppose this effort as it moves through the legislative process."
“SB120 is a direct attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion, threatening Georgia’s future by dismantling the very programs designed to create an equitable and representative workforce,” said Aireane Montgomery, President and CEO of Georgia Educators for Equity & Justice (GAEEJ Inc.). “Eliminating initiatives that support Black educators, HBCU students, and marginalized communities not only deepens systemic inequities but weakens our state’s economic and educational standing. Georgia cannot claim to be the number one place to work while actively erasing pathways to opportunity for its most vulnerable residents. We stand firmly against this harmful legislation and urge lawmakers to reject it in favor of policies that foster inclusion, opportunity, and academic freedom.”
“We are profoundly disturbed and disappointed by the wave of legislation aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives,” said Nancy Flake Johnson, President and CEO at the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. “Anti-DEI measures like SB120 are an affront to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and justice on which our nation was founded and threaten to undo all the progress made over the past 60 years toward building a nation that offers everyone an equal opportunity to thrive. We affirm that DEI programs provide essential tools necessary to address society’s historical and systemic inequities, and intentional and crucial pathways for marginalized communities to fully participate in our society. We urge state lawmakers to reject this anti-diversity measure and pledge to apply all available resources, including legal challenges, advocacy, and public education, to defend DEI and protect the civil rights of all individuals.”
“These spaces bring students of all backgrounds together in community. These spaces became my go-to between classes, my relief after stressful exams. They gave me community. They gave me belonging. I had finally found people I truly connected with,” said Raine Rinehart, a student at Georgia Tech and an organizer with the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition. “Senate Bill 120 has already forced Georgia Tech to dissolve crucial student support programs. I am here to ask – on a campus full of people from countless backgrounds and countries, how can we thrive without programs that advocate for diversity?”
"Georgia's schools, colleges, and universities are at their best when they recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This bill will make it harder for schools to support all of their students and will make Georgia's school environments worse,” said Terrence Wilson, Regional Policy and Community Engagement Director at the IDRA. “Now, more than ever, as Black and Latino students already face disparities in outcomes and access, we should rededicate ourselves to find new ways to support our schools that benefit all students. Our leaders should therefore invest in programs and activities that recognize the value and benefits of diverse students and families in Georgia."
Read the fact sheet regarding SB120 here.
