Texas students speakout to defend diversity programs
Austin, TX – On Tuesday, June 27, close to a dozen students and community members gathered in front of the Texas State Capitol to speak out against Senate Bill 17, which effectively bans diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public universities in Texas. At the speakout, called by Austin Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), students talked about the impacts of the ban on diversity programs.
“Austin SDS is out here today to express our dissatisfaction and anger about the passage of Senate Bill 17, which was signed into law on June 17,” SDS member Jules Lattimore said. “Greg Abbott is trying to do what Ron DeSantis is doing to Florida, and we're going to fight to make sure that doesn't happen.”
Jake Holtzman, another SDS member, said, “We take inspiration from the Tampa 5, who bravely continue to fight for diversity programs, ethnic studies and increased Black enrollment at their school even after facing brutal repression. We stand in solidarity with the Tampa 5, and we will follow their example here in Texas.”
Holtzman concluded with a call to action: “We are out here not just to defend diversity programs at our schools, but to demand that these programs go even further. So let’s get organized to make this happen. If we stay organized and continue to build a fighting student movement united in action, we can win our demands!”
Other people in attendance at the speakout included organizers with the Texas State Employees Union, the Young Democratic Socialists of America, the Impact Movement, and the Epic Movement.
The demonstration closed with group chants like, “Hey hey, ho ho, Governor Abbot has to go” and “Ho ho, hey hey, diversity programs are here to stay!”