Kentucky lawmakers challenged by Louisville groups over bills threatening diversity in schools

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some Louisville activists educators and faith leaders are sending a message to Kentucky lawmakers considering a bill that would outlaw promotion of diversity in public schools.

The Louisville Urban League and its A Path Forward initiative held a news conference on Monday to tell Frankfort it is against Senate Bill 93. That measure would prevent Kentucky public schools from advocating for or spending resources of diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI.

Jefferson County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said the measure could be detrimental to the progress that JCPS has made with its disadvantaged population.

"There is no way to eliminate the achievement gap unless we make sure that we specifically provide extra supports, extra funding, everything that we need to do to make sure our most marginalized kids have every opportunity to be successful," Pollio said.

The league issued a public letter to lawmakers in Frankfort and requested that members of the community sign the letter in support.

Dr. John Marshall who was the visionary behind schools like WEB Dubois and Grace James called on Corporate DEI executives to stand in support with them saying it could be their jobs next.

The letter lists six bills A Path Forward opposes including Senate bills 93 and 6 along with House bills 9, 191, 224 and 304.

The letter reads in part: "These proposed bills ignore that blueprint and do further harm. They are bad for our students. They are bad for education. They are bad for the Commonwealth. They are bad for our economy. They are bad for our democracy. SB93, in particular, negatively targets non-whites, protects misguided ideas, and generates false hysteria about the intent of public schooling, marginalized people, and those seeking truth. This bill is anti-difference. It is against meeting the needs of Kentucky children. It excludes anyone who seeks to be acknowledged, accepted, and respected and differs from antiquated, racist, sexist, and ableist thought."

The letter has already been signed by more than 160 people.

To read the letter being sent by A Path Forward to Kentucky lawmakers about DEI, click here.

On Monday, University of Louisville president Kim Schatzel wrote a university-wide letter that "strongly endorse(s) continued support" for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at U of L and other state colleges.

Her comments come five days after her counterpart at the University of Kentucky, Eli Capilouto, explicitly opposed a pair of anti-DEI bills in the Kentucky House and Senate.

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