Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) signed a bill Monday to defund diversity, equity and inclusion programs at all state universities and colleges.
DeSantis characterized DEI programs as “discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination” which have no place in our public institutions,” during a news conference in Sarasota.
“This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.”
The bill applies to state and federal funds.
The sweeping law also demands “identity politics” be removed from general education courses and requires universities to review courses “based on theories that systemic racism, sexism and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political and economic inequities.”
“If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeley — go to some of these other places,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis signed the bill at liberal arts college New College of Florida where earlier this year DeSantis installed conservatives on the school’s board of trustees and fired an LGBT dean and librarian.
Critics of the law say it will lead to teachers being censored.
“This is a destructive law that targets diverse students like me and our ability to thrive in higher education institutions,” state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) said in a statement. “It also suppresses academic freedom and inserts conservative political orthodoxy into the classroom.”
The Stop-WOKE Act, a similar education law signed by DeSantis, is currently blocked after being challenged in federal court. DeSantis and the state are also involved in a legal battle with Disney.
DeSantis is expected to announce a bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination but trails former president Donald Trump in most polls. On Monday, Trump dinged DeSantis over Florida’s new six-week abortion ban.