These DEI initiatives he is outlawing teach us how to think critically and compassionately. They teach us how to stand up against hate and bigotry, and to make everyone in our community feel like they belong. We reject these attacks on our values of basic decency, opportunity, and love.

Florida’s public universities are some of the best in the country - but he is using our tax dollars to compromise their academic integrity in the service of his ideological vision. By manipulating Florida’s education system, DeSantis is indoctrinating the youth he’s claiming to protect. He twists our efforts to raise those who have been oppressed into sinister attempts to push others down. Presenting these DEI programs that are designed to bring in those who have been left out as pernicious attempts to divide and push people out.

As the students of these universities, we refuse to let him control the narrative. We believe in the value of diversity. We believe that teachers should decide what to teach—without interference from politicians. And we believe that the skills and knowledge these programs teach us are necessary to build a vibrant future with active, engaged citizens. Citizens who keep pressing our country to live up to its dreams of equality and liberty. Citizens working to make it a more perfect union, calling out and standing up to cruelty and governmental overreach wherever we see it.

Politicians have always counted on us staying silent; staying home and staying ignorant. And now remaining compliant with the damage actively being done to our education.