The Alabama NAACP issued a statement Monday condemning Gov. Kay Ivey for signing the recent diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ban into law.
Ivey signed SB129 into law on March 20, banning diversity, DEI programs and policies and other "divisive concepts" at publicly funded institutions.
The Alabama NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) called the law "racist" and said Ivey was "preparing an overt racist regime for the future generations of Alabama."
"This is colonialism in 2024. It is an oppressive, all-out attempt to control the narrative and to divide the state. We will not allow slavers to strip us from learning our rich history," Bernard Simleton, president of the Alabama NAACP, said.
Like the National NAACP and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, the Alabama NAACP encouraged black students and athletes not to come to Alabama, given the new law.
"There is no need to bring money into this state nor play for a team which disregards our humanity," Simelton said.
He also condemned the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act and the ballot harvesting bill, which established school choice via an education savings account system and banned ballot harvesting.
"Alabama is reverting to a time of segregation right before our eyes," Simelton added. "Governor Ivey and the state legislators who support this regressive legislation should be ashamed of themselves."
Read the Alabama NAACP's full statement below, shared on Facebook by the Marshall County NAACP chapter:
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