The new law (House Bill 1193) aims to prevent the state's public schools and universities from "engaging in discriminatory practices." Any school with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, trainings, and programs could lose state funding.
While a lawsuit against it is underway, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate has blocked the provisions that prohibit public schools from discussing a list of "divisive concepts" related to race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and national origin.
The case claims the banned portions violate the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of teachers, parents, and students.
At an Aug. 5 hearing, lawyers representing the plaintiffs argued that the law is too confusing, leaving parents, teachers, and students wondering what they can and cannot say and whether they could face consequences as a result of their speech.
Lisa Reppeto, an attorney at the state attorney general's office, pointed out that the First Amendment does not give students the right to dictate what their school does or does not say. Also, as the consequences of the law are aimed at the schools, she said the plaintiffs' argument is "not consistent with what is in the statute."
Randy Boyd, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives for District 19, asserts, "This bill solves a problem that we've seen since the woke people kind of took over in some areas."
It is meant to help bring hiring back to what it is supposed to be like.
"It doesn't change any of the discrimination laws; all it does is it takes us back to a point where employers can hire the best qualified person, regardless of race, color, or creed," Boyd summarizes. "It's just a simple business premise that you get the best person you can for the job. That's what businesses have to do in this economy."
He does not think DEI – which he has worked to keep out of public schools – will ultimately be required.
"We look at our education system, and some of the things that are put forth that are woke … just [don't] work in the world," Boyd tells AFN. "It may sound good to people, but it's not the best thing for us to do."
"Teaching it puts the mindset in people," he says. "We don't need to get that mindset in."
