They Don’t Want You To See This: Communities Resist Attacks On Immigration, Education, and DEI

Today is Juneteenth (June 19th), a day of celebration of Black freedom, independence, and culture. The legacy of Juneteenth  — a day symbolizing hope, resilience, and resistance — reminds us all that the fight for our liberation has never been without struggle, delay, and backlash to progress. 

This Juneteenth is all the more bittersweet as we dawn on the five-year anniversary of the summer uprisings of 2020 in protest of police brutality and the systemic racism that contributed to the murder of George Floyd. Nationwide, we are seeing a surge in xenophobic attacks including ICE disappearances, which disproportionately harm Black and Brown immigrant communities, on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and public education. Celebrations for Juneteenth itself have been rolled back by companies, local governments, and federal grants due to anti-DEI sentiment. 

Power hungry politicians, public officials, and billionaires don’t want us to see the threads of authoritarianism and white supremacy woven between all of these issues. They also don’t want us to know the power our people possess, especially when we organize. 

All over the country, in cities like Memphis, Columbus, Durham and many more, State Tables and partners are mobilizing their communities, amplifying marginalized voices, and resisting anti-DEI and anti-immigrant policies. Keep reading to get your dose of inspiration, and join a people-powered movement near you:

• In Ohio, Ohio Voice partner OPAWL, alongside Young United Souls for Revolutionary Action and Our Helpers, are mobilizing community members to take action against Ohio’s House Bill 1, which would ban immigrants from buying land near military bases and infrastructure. They’ve helped send over 11,000 letters to Ohio legislators to stop this dangerous anti-immigrant bill. Also in Ohio, Ohio Voice partners Honesty of Ohio Education and OPAWL are among a coalition of organizations supporting a people-powered referendum to stop the enactment of Senate Bill 1 — a sweeping anti-DEI bill poised to have an outsized impact on the activities and academic programs of public higher education. The coalition is currently collecting signatures for a statewide referendum so that Ohioans may decide whether the law is enacted. Senate Bill 1 is just one example of public officials using DEI as a scapegoat to gut public education. 

• In Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Voice partner Make the Road PA, has launched a public solidarity pledge supporting immigrant communities and a Know Your Rights campaign, including flyers and handheld cards educating communities on what to do in the event of an encounter with ICE.

• In Nebraska, the Nebraska Table’s podcast, A Seat at the Nebraska Table, discusses the impact of xenophobic narratives and legislative attacks on immigrants within local Nebraskan communities and what Nebraskans can do to fight back alongside Table partners, Heartland Workers Center, and Nebraska Appleseed.

• In Tennessee, Civic TN  and their partners including Stand for Children Tennessee, Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), ACLU of Tennessee and more joined the Education for All Tennessee coalition to organize thousands of Tennessians to help defeat congressional bills House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836, which attempted to deny public K-12 education to children based on immigration status. While the anti-immigrant and anti-education legislation failed this state session, Tennessee’s “Dismantle DEI bill” has passed and gone into effect. This is not stopping the Civic TN and its partners, including the ACLU of Tennessee and the American Muslim Advisory Council, from supporting communities with  Know Your Right sessions on protecting and advocating for more inclusive education practices.

• In North Carolina, Blueprint NC partner Siembra NC is combating misinformation and fear within migrant communities in the state with shareable resources including Know Your Rights education, ICE watch trainings, and grassroots reporting on active detentions taking place. Efforts like these, paired with calls to action to contact representatives organized by Blueprint NC partner, El Pueblo, Inc., provide an excellent model for a multilayered strategy fueled by people power. 

• Blueprint NC partner The North Carolina Justice Center, has teamed up with Every Child NC to provide community spaces to learn and engage with strategies to defend against state based attempts to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across schools. 

• In Kentucky, the Protect Our Schools KY coalition issued a statement addressing the current administration’s intention to dismantle the Department of Education and potential budget cuts from Congress. Following the defeat of Amendment 2, aka the Voucher Amendment, the coalition has launched a 10 city community workshop series focused on building a bold, community-centered agenda for public education in Kentucky. 

Attacks from billionaires and politicians on migrant communities, public education, and diversity are not new to U.S. history; however, the increase in hostile actions, both in states and in the federal government, can’t be ignored. Authoritarianism and white supremacy cannot thrive where people have access to civil rights, education, and participation in government. As state governments take aim rolling back advancements in democracy, our network is on high alert.

Today, you can support our critical grassroots activism to defend democracy. By contributing to State Voices, you’re directly supporting our state tables and their partners in their fight for safety, belonging, and justice for our communities.