FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Emily Hagan-Howe, Communications Director, ACLU of Vermont; [email protected], 802-223-6304 x121
Montpelier, VT – The Trump administration has repeatedly and explicitly sought to distort and weaponize civil rights law in order to attack diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in schools and workplaces across the nation. Following the issuance of a Trump administration directive requiring states and school districts to affirm compliance with its characterization of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – the federal law prohibiting race-based discrimination in schools, and that the administration has made clear it interprets to outlaw diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility – several states rejected the directive and refused to comply.
Vermont’s Agency of Education, after initially directing school districts to certify compliance, rescinded that guidance and apparently intends to certify compliance on their behalf. Rather than follow the lead of neighboring states and rejecting the Trump administration’s directive, Governor Scott instead characterized Trump’s attempt to gain leverage over schools as simply a request “to verify we comply with existing federal civil rights laws” and accused local activists of “stok[ing] more fear and anxiety throughout our education system.”
The following statement can be attributed to ACLU Vermont Executive Director James Lyall: “The people of Vermont have been outspoken in calling on their elected leaders to stick up for Vermont’s laws, values, and communities. Now more than ever, we must be unified in defending our democracy from existential threats.
The Trump administration’s goal here is no secret: it has openly announced its intention to brazenly weaponize Title VI as leverage to coerce schools into abandoning speech, ideas, and practices the administration does not like through an interpretation of the statute that prohibits DEI. That is why the ACLU has sued the Department of Education for its unlawful campaign to re-write the law. This attempt to certify ‘compliance’ with Title VI is not, as the Governor suggests, ‘business as usual’—as our neighboring states have recognized, it is a cynical attempt to gain leverage over schools and teachers. We urge the Governor to follow their lead and reject this attempt to undermine our laws and values.
Vermonters’ support for Governor Scott has derived in large part from his willingness to oppose – in both words and deeds – the dangerous excesses of the Trump administration that threaten our state and our country. We hope that he does that, and that he takes responsibility for his administration’s missteps, rather than shifting blame onto his constituents, the people of Vermont who care deeply about our education system and our democracy. That is what leadership would look like here.
Earlier this month, a diverse, statewide group of leading businesses, faith leaders, and nonprofits urged the governor and state legislators to be outspoken and bold in defending our laws and values, including from attacks on diversity and inclusion initiatives. More than 150 organizations have now signed onto that nonpartisan letter. We encourage the governor, the legislature, and the Attorney General to take another look.”
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