Alabama Governor Signs Bill That Has The Left In A Tizzy

This move is part of a broader trend of Republican-led legislation aimed at curbing diversity efforts.

The legislation, designated as SB129, imposes limitations on eight "divisive concepts." These include attributing "fault, blame, or bias" to any race, religion, gender, or color, and discussions on whether "slavery and racism align with the founding principles of the United States." The law empowers state agencies to "discipline or terminate employees or contractors who violate this act."

March 22, 2024

Furthermore, the law mandates that higher education institutions assign bathrooms "for use based on biological sex," effectively preventing transgender individuals from using public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

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Governor Ivey signed the bill into law following its final approval by the Republican-dominated state legislature on Tuesday. The law is set to take effect on October 1.

In a statement, Governor Ivey asserted that her administration "will continue to value Alabama's rich diversity." However, she pledged to counteract "bad actors on college campuses... to push their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe."

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The legislation faced fierce opposition from Democrats, civil rights advocates, and student groups, who argued that the bill was a thinly veiled attempt to undermine free speech and diversity initiatives.

Pen America, a free-speech advocacy organization, likened the bill to Florida's Stop Woke Act, which regulated how race and racial issues could be taught in schools until it was blocked in court earlier this month. According to Pen America, SB129 is "even more restrictive," resulting in "a campus environment devoid of intellectual freedom, and a state law so draconian that it gives Florida a run for its money."

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Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin expressed his disapproval of the law, stating that he would encourage Black athletes to consider attending institutions outside the state. "Why would you make it illegal for institutions of higher learning to promote diversity and inclusion among its faculty and staff? Why would you block fair representation and opportunities for all people?" he questioned in a Facebook post last month.

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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama argued that SB129 was designed to have a "chilling effect" on discourse concerning race, class, sexuality, and national origin. The organization stated on its website, "This is not only a form of classroom censorship, it's an anti-truth bill which curtails an education on systemic inequities, racial violence, and the historic efforts to gain civil rights and civil liberties for marginalized communities throughout our nation's history."