Political leaders use DEI as a smokescreen to roll back human and civil rights

Yahoo

12-05-2025

Last week, the Department of Education slashed $1 billion in mental health funding for schools. A month prior, the Department of Justice cancelled a $26 million federal program designed to rebuild water infrastructure in a rural Alabama county where sewage regularly contaminates homes.
In both instances, the administration justified these cuts by blaming one of their favorite culprits: DEI.
This administration has repeatedly sought to attack and disparage DEI as 'woke ideology.' Using the DEI label as a smokescreen, our political leaders have mounted a profound assault on human and civil rights, from rescinding a ban on segregated workplace facilities to dismantling the Department of Justice's civil rights policies.
These attacks threaten the very freedoms that Americans have fought to protect for decades. But while our current political landscape might feel unprecedented, opposition to DEI isn't new. The arguments made by critics mirror narratives that have been circulating for more than 150 years, dating back to the Reconstruction Era.
Our ongoing fight for justice is essential, particularly as the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are deeply rooted in and inspired by the civil rights movement.
Opponents of DEI often try to diminish or distort the intent of diversity, equity and inclusion. They relegate DEI to a single workplace program, or they portray these principles as discriminatory and unjust by claiming that DEI disregards merit and talent. These harmful narratives have been magnified through social media platforms and polarizing political rhetoric, creating misunderstanding and resistance to initiatives that are fundamentally created to foster fairness, representation and genuine equality of opportunity for all.
Diversity, equity and inclusion extend far beyond mere business practices. They are foundational principles essential for building a fair and just society.
DEI means supporting the 18 million veterans living in the U.S. by facilitating their successful reintegration and active participation in society. It means passing paid family and medical leave laws that allow parents to adequately care for their children.
DEI means ensuring access, resources and opportunities for underrepresented students. It empowers all students to thrive, with programs like TRIO boosting college retention and making participants 47% more likely to earn an associate's and 18% more likely to earn a bachelor's degree.
DEI encompasses initiatives such as the Community Services Block Grant, which serves more than 9 million individuals annually and provides underrepresented communities with safe and supportive housing and essential funding to enhance community well-being.
DEI ensures that individuals with disabilities receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs, whether that's wheelchair ramps or keyboard navigation for visually impaired individuals.
The list goes on.
Ultimately, these initiatives benefit society as a whole by ensuring that every person not only survives but thrives. They promote the active participation of all individuals in our global economy and correct unjust systems. They foster the creation of inclusive systems designed explicitly to address and rectify historical inequalities and exclusion.
So why would anyone oppose these measures? It's a question we'll keep confronting as we work through the challenges of implementing meaningful and sustainable change.
Challenges will always arise, but it's our response that will define this moment. As a human rights advocate, I work at a nonprofit named after former attorney general Bobby Kennedy. In one of his most famous speeches, Sen. Kennedy reminded us of the power of individual action: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.'
These ripples, collectively, can build a current that sweeps away the barriers of oppression and resistance. By standing by the principles of DEI, human rights and civil rights, we — be it business leaders, teachers, politicians, civil society advocates, investors, and individuals — can create a more just and peaceful world.
Fanta NGom is the director of business and human rights at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. She lives in Austin.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Politicians use DEI as a smokescreen to roll back rights | Opinion