Politics & Government
Sen. Shevrin Jones: Public University Policies In Legislation Are ‘Racist At Its Core'
Concerns of systemic racism have become part of a higher education bill in the Legislature, a result of DeSantis's efforts, the report says.
April 21, 2023
Concerns of systemic racism have become part of a higher education bill moving through the Legislature, as the DeSantis administration and Republicans move to reshape Florida’s university system.
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The issue came up during a Senate committee meeting Thursday, where senators were debating a bill, SB 266, that could make several changes to general courses at universities, among other measures.
For example, the legislation states, “General education core courses may not distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05 (Florida Educational Equity Act), or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.”
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State Sen. Shevrin Jones, of Miami-Dade, responded to that, saying, “We can’t and should not distort, hide, or just gloss over” historical events. He referenced lynchings, red-lining and spraying “black folks.”
He added: “The crux of this policy, a lot of these polices that we’re passing, is racist at its core. These policies that we’re looking at right now, they are dangerous.”
Jones also said: “We are in a totally different time right now in this legislative body that is sickening to my stomach,” Jones said, reading the language in the higher education bill. He referenced issues of racism, sexism and systemic racism.
“It exists y’all. Whether you want to believe it or not. Systemic racism exists,” Jones said in the Senate committee room, where senators and members of the public had come to discuss the higher education bill.
“I pray to God…these are tough conversations,” Jones said.
“I pray to God we get to a place where we can stop this. This is too much. Too much.”
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