BIRMINGHAM — A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit alleging an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion law signed by Gov. Kay Ivey last year violates the constitutional rights of professors and students.
The lawsuit, brought by professors and students in the University of Alabama System against Gov. Kay Ivey and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees, alleges Senate Bill 129 stifled instructional activity and violated the First and Fourteenth amendment rights of the plaintiffs.
A two-day evidentiary hearing was held last week. Senate Bill 129 bans public funding of DEI and the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts,” such as people of one race are “inherently responsible” for past crimes committed by members of that race. Critics say the legislation was vaguely written and threatened the teaching of Black history in schools.
Antonio Ingram, counsel for the plaintiffs, argued the law prevents debates from happening in the classroom and prevents learning, citing as an example a course that could bring up the idea of paying reparations to Black Americans for centuries of slavery, segregation and voting disenfranchisement.