Birmingham Mayor Says Black Athletes Should Leave Alabama If Anti-DEI Bill Passes

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is not mixing things up relating to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Alabama public schools and universities.

In a post on social media regarding FacebookWoodfin said he would encourage parents of minority student-athletes to decide on colleges in states that prioritize diversity and inclusion if lawmakers pass a law banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools and universities.

Woodfin was responding to the condition Senate Bill No. 129 that will prohibit state agencies, local boards of education, and native boards of education from having a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office, department, and inclusion (DEI) office, department, and public institutions of upper education from having a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office, department, or program, equity and inclusion (DEI).

The bill would also prohibit public schools from endorsing “divisive concepts,” equivalent to teaching that “slavery and racism are consistent with the founding principles of the United States” and that “guilt, blame, or prejudice shall be assigned to members of society” by race, color, religion, sex , ethnic origin or national origin based on race, color, religion, sex, ethnic origin or national origin.”

The bill would require a vote within the House of Representatives before it might be signed into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.

In his post, Woodfin asked the “leaders, athletic directors and coaches” of those universities whether or not they supported the proposed law. He continued: “To the parents of minority athletes who are helping their children decide whether they want to play sports at these institutions: Would it bother them if their child played in schools where diversity among the staff is actively discouraged?”

“While I am Bama’s biggest fan, I have no problem organizing activities for Black parents and athletes at other out-of-state institutions that prioritize diversity and inclusion. If supporting integration becomes illegal in this state, damn it, you might as well be at the school door like the governor [George] Wallace” who was a staunch segregationist.

Some praised Woodfin’s post, while others who support laws banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools and universities called him “racist.”