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Every one of Mississippi’s black state senators walked out of the Senate chamber to protest a bill that would ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory in the Magnolia State’s schools.
The bill, introduced by Republican state Sen. Michael McLendon, states: “No public institution of higher learning,
23 community/junior college, school district or public school, 24 including public charter schools, shall direct or otherwise compel 25 students to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to any of the 26 following tenants.”
” No public institution of higher learning, community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall make a distinction or classification of students based on account of race, provided that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the required collection or reporting of demographic information by such schools or institutions,” the bill states.
“No public institution of higher learning, 39 community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall teach a course of instruction or unit of study that directs or otherwise, compels students to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to any of the tenants identified in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section,” the bill adds.
“No funds shall be expended by the state department of education, any entity under the department of education’s jurisdiction or purview, a school district, public charter school, community/junior college, the Mississippi Community College Board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or a public institution of higher learning for any purpose that would violate the provisions of this section,” the bill continues.
Democrats argued the measure is unnecessary because CRT is not taught in schools to begin with and might prevent aspects of the state’s history from being covered in classrooms.
“I think this bill is going to put a chilling effect on that journey,” said Democratic state Sen. John Horhn, according to WLBT-TV. “I think it’s going to slow us down on coming together, and I think it’s going to drive a wedge between us that doesn’t need to be driven.”
“It is sad we are wasting so much time on something that is not even needed,” said Democratic state Sen. David Jordan.
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Republicans like McLendon said Mississippi parents are seeing discussions of CRT “on the national news” and need to be reassured that their children aren’t being taught that their race determines their worth.
GOP state Sen. Chris McDaniel noted that if the bill had been introduced in the 1950s, it would have been the “most dynamic piece of civil rights legislation in this state’s history.”
“I’m trying to find the mischief in this bill and I don’t see it,” he said. “Our kids need objective facts and not subjective notions of theory.”
The bill ultimately passed 32-2.
Last year, Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz introduced legislation that would eliminate federal funding for those that insist on teaching Critical Race Theory.
“The federal government has no right to force a political agenda onto Americans, especially one that aims to tear down our institutions and divide us based on race,” Cruz stated.
“Critical Race Theory originated out of the critical race studies movement. A Marxist ideology that sees the world as a battle, not between the classes – as classical Marxism does – but between the races,” he added.
“Critical Race Theory preserves this way of thinking and undermines civil rights, constitutionally guaranteed equal protection before the law, and U.S. institutions at large,” he added.
Cruz’s bill, dubbed the End CRT Act, is just the latest in a series of GOP-led proposals that seek to ban CRT in public schools and universities.
The Texas Republican criticized Joe Biden’s reversal of a Trump-era executive order that banned “blame-focused” workplace training in federal agencies, federal contractors, and by federal grant recipients.
Cruz noted the growing movement across the country of parents coming out against CRT being taught in the education system.
