SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — Illinois civil rights organizations are preparing to take action against an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, attempting to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
I spoke to Public Policy Director, Ed Yohnka, from the American Civil Liberties Union, and he told me this executive order is an attempt to rewrite history.
“The administration seems to want to dictate across the country the way we portray our history,” Yohnka said. “Recognition of the site in Springfield for the 1908 Race Riot, is an important recognition of a very dark time in our history.”
The Springfield 1908 Race Riots consisted of a violent attack against black Americans which ended with innocent lives lost and burned businesses.
This historical event led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which promotes equality.
Yohnka said he’s not surprised that Trump issued the order to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“This is part of a larger movement to sort of erase a reality about our society,” Yohnka said. “And, not face it in attempts to actually bring improvements both on the individual level, but also on the systemic level. “
The removal of DEI initiatives could trickle down to the education system after President Trump threatened to defund schools if U.S. history lessons included structural racism. A lesson Springfield knows all too well with the 1908 Race Riots.
“They don’t acknowledge that these things even occurred and don’t want them taught in our schools,” Yohnka said.
Political Science Expert, Kent Redfield, said cities, municipalities, and the state of Illinois have the freedom to continue to push for diversity, equity and inclusion.
“You can do things that the federal government doesn’t allow you to do in relation to something they control,” Redfield said.
The ACLU said they will continue to study the orders that could potentially affect Illinois and has already submitted a lawsuit against the birthright citizenship executive order
Yohnka added it’s important for state and local municipalities to advance minority businesses and applicants to address long-term systemic issues.
