Judge Suspends Enforcement of Community College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Rules in California
A judge in California has suspended the enforcement of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) rules instituted by the California Community College system.
The rules, which took effect in the spring, aim to “ensure faculty and staff uphold DEI values.
According to a memo from system leaders, the rules established specific criteria to evaluate employees on their “demonstrated, or progress toward, proficiency in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility … competencies that enable work with diverse communities.”
In August, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed a lawsuit on behalf of six California community college professors to halt new, systemwide regulations.
The plaintiffs assert that the rules “infringe on their First Amendment rights” and “require them to incorporate ideologies they don’t support in their work or risk losing their jobs.”
The regulations explicitly require professors to pledge allegiance to contested ideological viewpoints.
