1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I share your support for diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), civil rights, and disability rights initiatives. These executive orders from the previous administration represent a disturbing attack on critical efforts to promote equal opportunity and address systemic discrimination. By mischaracterizing lawful DEI programs as discriminatory, these orders aim to intimidate organizations into abandoning vital measures that foster fairness and open doors for underrepresented groups. Institutions must resist this political coercion and reaffirm their commitment to identifying and removing barriers based on race, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics. Properly designed DEI initiatives are essential for compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and creating equitable environments where all can access opportunities. Abandoning such programs risks perpetuating inequality, alienating diverse talent pools, and violating equal employment and educational opportunity laws. We cannot allow fear-mongering executive actions to roll back decades of progress made through bipartisan policies promoting equity and inclusion. Companies, schools, government agencies and others must uphold their legal obligations while advancing DEI efforts through race-neutral measures that expand access. Doubling down on our dedication to equal opportunity is crucial for improving education, business growth, and allowing all communities to thrive. I urge maintaining a steadfast stance against these harmful orders that undermine civil rights protections.