The Florida Board of Education announced Wednesday that public colleges will not be able to use either state or federal money for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
"In Florida, we will not tolerate the use of public funds for divisive DEI programs in Florida's colleges," wrote state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. "It is unacceptable to use taxpayer dollars to support programs that categorize individuals by their race or sex."
In Florida, we will not tolerate the use of public funds for divisive DEI programs in Florida's colleges. It is unacceptable to use taxpayer dollars to support programs that categorize individuals by their race or sex.
DEI is DOA in Florida.https://t.co/9dNDOy0L7x
— Manny Diaz Jr. (@CommMannyDiazJr) January 17, 2024
The new regulations prohibit 28 colleges that are part of the state higher education system to use state funds to "administer programs that categorize individuals based on race or sex for the purpose of differential or preferential treatment," according to a press release of the Florida council. According to it, the rule will "ensure that taxpayer funds can no longer be used to promote DEI."
Manny Diaz, Jr., thus continues the campaign of the state governor, Ron DeSantis, against DEI both in educational institutions and in companies. The presidential candidate also chose this battle as one of the flags to distinguish himself from his competitors for the GOP nomination: "Individual achievement and merit has to be restored in this country, a colour blind society is what we should aspire to and that's what I'll do as president," DeSantis said this week during a town hall in his latest attack against the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives - which he renamed "Discrimination, Exclusion and Indoctrination" -.
We should not divvy people up based on race, ethnicity, or gender — let’s treat people as individuals.
There should be no discrimination against anyone, but that doesn’t just go for ethnic or racial minorities. It also means you don’t discriminate against white Americans or… pic.twitter.com/rPd7mISMl1
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 17, 2024
