Latest news with #ACLUofMississippi
21-07-2025
- Politics
Mississippi judge pauses the state's ban on DEI programs in schools and universities
JACKSON, Miss. -- A Mississippi law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs from public schools and universities was temporarily blocked by a federal judge Sunday. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate approved the request for a temporary restraining order brought by a group of plaintiffs, including the Mississippi Association of Educators. The ACLU of Mississippi, which represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the law imposes the 'preferred views" of Mississippi's state government on students, educators and families, violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments. 'We are fighting to protect the constitutional rights of teachers and students to share ideas and to receive and exchange knowledge,' the statement said. "We look forward to our day in court.' The temporary restraining order will stay in place until Wingate rules on the plaintiff's request for preliminary injunction, a longer-term order that would prevent the law from being enforced while litigation plays out in court. The ACLU of Mississippi said Wingate's order is a 'critical first step.' The law, which passed in April, bans offices, courses, trainings and programs relating to DEI, as well as a list of 'divisive topics.' Educational institutions found to be in violation of the law could lose state funding. In his ruling, Wingate cited instances where the law is already having an impact as part of his reason for siding with the plaintiffs. Faculty members at Jackson State University have been instructed not to discuss gender theory or systemic racism, he wrote. 'Suppressing constitutional speech through vague prohibitions and the specter of financial retribution does not serve the public good — it undermines it,' the ruling reads. Both parties will argue their case at a hearing about the potential preliminary injunction Wednesday.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mississippi judge pauses the state's ban on DEI programs in schools and universities
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs from public schools and universities was temporarily blocked by a federal judge Sunday. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate approved the request for a temporary restraining order brought by a group of plaintiffs, including the Mississippi Association of Educators. The ACLU of Mississippi, which represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the law imposes the 'preferred views" of Mississippi's state government on students, educators and families, violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments. 'We are fighting to protect the constitutional rights of teachers and students to share ideas and to receive and exchange knowledge,' the statement said. "We look forward to our day in court.' The temporary restraining order will stay in place until Wingate rules on the plaintiff's request for preliminary injunction, a longer-term order that would prevent the law from being enforced while litigation plays out in court. The ACLU of Mississippi said Wingate's order is a 'critical first step.' The law, which passed in April, bans offices, courses, trainings and programs relating to DEI, as well as a list of 'divisive topics.' Educational institutions found to be in violation of the law could lose state funding. In his ruling, Wingate cited instances where the law is already having an impact as part of his reason for siding with the plaintiffs. Faculty members at Jackson State University have been instructed not to discuss gender theory or systemic racism, he wrote. 'Suppressing constitutional speech through vague prohibitions and the specter of financial retribution does not serve the public good — it undermines it,' the ruling reads. Both parties will argue their case at a hearing about the potential preliminary injunction Wednesday. The Mississippi Attorney General's Office declined to comment on the pending litigation. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ACLU, partners file lawsuit challenging Mississippi's DEI ban
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A federal lawsuit had been filed against the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), Mississippi Community College Board, Mississippi State Board of Education, and the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. The lawsuit, filed by ACLU of Mississippi, Mississippi Center for Justice, Badat Legal and Quinn, Connor, Weaver, Davies & Rouco LLP, the challenges the constitutionality of House Bill 1193 of the 2025 legislative session. With budget approved, Mississippi lawmakers look ahead to 2026 session According to the complaint, House Bill 1193 violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution by imposing the state government's preferred views on matters of public concern – like race, gender and sexuality – on students, educators and families across Mississippi and censoring contrary views. The complaint also alleges that some of the provisions of the law are vague and contradictory that students and educators do not know what they can and cannot do at school. 'Members of the Mississippi Legislature may very well be incapable of having productive discussions on race, gender, or our state's history. That doesn't mean our educators and students aren't up to handling difficult conversations,' said Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi. 'The First Amendment protects the right to share ideas, including teachers' and students' right to receive and exchange knowledge. Open and honest dialogue benefits all students and, if given a try, it would benefit the Mississippi Legislature.' 250609_complaint_challenging_ms_dei_law_final_0Download Plaintiffs allege that the law, which was passed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), would ban teachers and students from discussing slavery, the Civil War, various forms of discrimination in the past and present, the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage and women's rights movements and the LGBTQ rights movement. Plaintiffs asked the federal court in Jackson find various provisions of the law to be unconstitutional in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of the plaintiffs and to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from being enforced, followed later by a permanent injunction. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
