'I’m the biggest racist': DeSantis skewered after axing diversity, equity and inclusion programs

03 July 2023

Editor's note: An Oxford comma was removed from the headline.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is proud to run his "War on Woke" 2024 presidential campaign that includes advocating for book bans, anti-LGBTQ+ laws, as well as anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion programs both in schools and the workplace.

On Sunday, the 2024 GOP hopeful shared a clip of himself speaking and signing legislation via Twitter, writing, "As of July 1st, DEI is over in the state of Florida."

The governor's tweet comes less than two months after CBS reported he introduced House Bill 999 in May, which would "ban state colleges and universities from using funds to 'promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities that espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion [DEI] or Critical Race Theory rhetoric.'

Furthermore, CBS noted, "The bill would also give the state's board of governors the ability to remove 'any major or minor that is based on or otherwise utilizes pedagogical methodology associated with Critical Theory.'"

In the video DeSantis posted, he announced, "So, this bill says, the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida. We are eliminating the DEI programs. We are going to treat people as individuals, we are not going to treat people as members of groups. DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination. And that has no place in our public institutions."

Several professors, lawmakers, and other education experts slammed the governor's discriminatory legislation.

Chris Harris, vice president of Communications at GIFFORDS, said, "DeSantis is literally running on a platform of Uniformity, Inequity & Exclusion."

Former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner said, "Ron DeSantis is more dangerous than Donald Trump simply because that's his only guiding principle.

Ex-editor at Chicago Tribune & Sun-Times Mark Jacob commented, "DeSantis’ clear message is: 'Vote for me! I'm the biggest racist!'"

Chairman of the Virginia Black Caucus Lamont Bagby noted, "DEI is on the ballot this November in Virginia. We have learned that whatever Governor DeSantis does is what Governor Youngkin will do next."

Dean of the College of Education & Professional Studies at the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Danielle Dennis, commented, "Imagine being proud of this. I am saddened and angered by what this man is doing to my home state."

Dorian Davis, assistant professor at Webster University, added, "I have literally never seen a worse campaign for president."

Watch DeSantis below or at this link.

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