#TalkRadio – February 18: #NoDEINoBUY: Countering the Attack by the Trump Administration and MAGA on DEI in the Federal and Private Sectors

SPEAKERS:

Dianne Wilkerson: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
First African American Female to serve in the Massachusetts Senate and TJC Board Treasurer

Dr. Karen McRae: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
President & CEO, Concerned Black Men of America; Board Member of the Transformative Justice Coalition

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “#NoDEINoBUY: Countering the Attack by the Trump Administration and MAGA on DEI in the Federal and Private Sectors”, with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. will feature two TJC Board Members, Dianne Wilkerson and Dr. Karen McRae, as special guests. As promised, immediately upon taking office President Donald Trump issued executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by the federal government; targeting contracts of anyone who has had a DEI program; and, eliminating jobs, positions, and programs which have ever had DEI involvement.

As expected, these Executive Orders have been overbroad, confusing, and have served to dismantle actual civil rights law enforcement. Indeed, within the federal agencies, particularly the DOJ, there has been a complete dismantling of civil rights law enforcement. These DEI Bans have resulted in federal agencies refusing to acknowledge Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride programming, Disability Awareness, Hispanic Heritage Month, and more. 

Most recently, the “…U.S. Department of Education has given colleges and schools with race-specific programs — including financial aid and racially themed dormitory floors and graduation ceremonies — until the end of the month to abolish them or risk losing federal funding as educators scrambled over the holiday weekend to interpret the sweeping scope of new guidelines. The ‘dear colleague’ letter from the department’s civil rights division and addressed to K-12 and higher education leaders lays out a new federal anti-discrimination enforcement policy that extends beyond the use of race in admissions, a practice barred since 2023 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The guidelines, signed by acting assistant secretary for civil rights Craig Trainor, said schools using ‘race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life’ were in violation of anti-discrimination laws and legal precedent set in the high court’s affirmative action case.” (See source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-17/education-department-will-cut-funding-unless-schools-abolish-dei )

Furthermore, MAGA-ite attorneys continue to attack DEI programs in the public and private sector. The HACER National Scholarship Program, which is sponsored by McDonald’s, was recently involved in a legal case. The American Alliance for Equal Rights, led by conservative activist Edward Blum, filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s, claiming that the HACER program was discriminatory because it required applicants to have at least one Latino parent. In response to the lawsuit, McDonald’s reached a settlement that will allow the program to be open to any student who can demonstrate an impact on or commitment to the Latino community. This means that applicants no longer need to have a Latino parent to be eligible for the scholarship. (See source: https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-hacer-scholarships-latinos-60da19c2de2f8ecb01b68a68ec581438?form=MG0AV3 )

Bizarrely, Elon Musk and DOGE have also baselessly attacked DEI as a contributor to “governmental inefficiencies and waste”. Musk, right-wing media, and the Trump Administration  have even used Twitter/X, media, and press conferences to gaslight any disaster as being the result of DEI programming despite clear evidence to the contrary. Many critics have pointed out that Musk, Trump, and many others promoting anti-DEI programs are promoting a White Supremacist and Resegregationist agenda.

In addition to these governmental cutbacks, private corporations have voluntarily been dismantling their DEI programs. These cutbacks have led to significant harm for African Americans, Latino’s, all women – including White women-, Asian Americans, Native Americans, the LGBTQIA community, and other communities. Sadly, programs assisting those with disabilities have been attacked straight up by President Trump and his Cabinet members. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), who was recently confirmed as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has made controversial remarks about antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Lexapro. He has suggested that these medications are highly addictive and has compared their withdrawal to that of heroin. RFK Jr. has also proposed creating “wellness farms” to help people detox from SSRIs and other medications, including those used to treat ADHD. However, many medical experts have criticized his statements, pointing out that SSRIs are generally considered safe and non-addictive. (Sources: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/kennedy-rfk-antidepressants-ssri-school-shootings/?form=MG0AV3 ; https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/medical-experts-react-to-rfk-jrs-antidepressant-drug-remarks/ar-AA1zevMb?form=MG0AV3 )

Fortunately, there is a tremendous fightback to this overall assault on DEI by civil rights groups, women’s groups, protestors, governmental employees, and many public and private entities. Indeed, a number of corporations have reasserted their support for DEI. These corporations have drawn the ire of the Trump Administration and threats of lawsuits from MAGA attorneys.

TJC, individuals, influencers, and many other racial justice and social justice organizations have stepped into this fight by not only countering the flawed narrative underlying anti-DEI assaults, but have also urged the public to use its buying power to demand that the corporate sector support DEI. Indeed, during the show we will discuss the NAACP’s recent Black Consumer Advisory publication. The NAACP recently released the Black Consumer Advisory, a guide aimed at helping Black Americans make informed spending decisions by highlighting companies that have either maintained or abandoned their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments. The guide encourages consumers to support businesses that prioritize DEI and to avoid those that have rolled back their initiatives. The advisory lists companies that have eliminated DEI roles, reduced supplier diversity, and cut investments in Black communities. It also praises companies that have stood by their DEI commitments, such as Delta Airlines, Apple, and Ben & Jerry’s. The NAACP emphasizes the economic power of Black consumers, which is projected to reach $1.7 trillion by 2030, and urges them to use their dollars to hold corporations accountable. (Sources: https://naacp.org/campaigns/black-consumer-advisory?form=MG0AV3 ; https://naacp.org/sites/default/files/documents/Black%20Consumer%20Advisory%202025.pdf?form=MG0AV3 ; https://www.blackenterprise.com/naacp-spending-guide-companies-dropped-dei/?form=MG0AV3 ) 

TJC is promoting a #NoDEINoBUY program. These economic boycotts (or economic “fasting” or “blackouts”, as some people call it) are having an impact. Our show will discuss strategies and tactics to deal with this onslaught of anti-DEI measures. 

QUESTIONS:

SEGMENT ONE

• In one minute, describe what our audience should know about your background.
• What was it like to be in Washington, D.C.?
• What was the highlight for you during this Training?

SEGMENT TWO

• What was new that you learned in this Training?
• What, to you, was the most valuable experience from this Training?
• Why do you care so much about democracy?Final Questions:
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENT THREE

• This segment will open with an 8-minute interview with Myles B. Caggins III, who will a bring timely update about the US Department of Agriculture’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. This is his second time as a guest on our program this year. The Black farmers fund, from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, is being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act contains an assistance fund for farmers who were discriminated against. This fund has $2.2b to cover 75 million applicants and covers anyone who can provide proof that they were discriminated against by the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was October 31, 2023.
• In addition to the application deadline change, the deadline to request records from USDA’s Farm Service Agency for use in applications has been extended to Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. The application process was designed so that FSA records are not required, though relevant records may be attached to an application as additional evidence if they are available.
• To learn more about the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program or receive assistance in English or Spanish, visit www.22007apply.gov, email info@22007apply.gov or contact the national call center at 1-800-721-0970 from 8 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. PT, every day except federal holidays. If you use sign language to communicate, you can use the 711 relay service to call. You may also email or contact the national call center if you have a disability and need another accommodation. Information about the program, resources, recent office openings and local events across the country is also available through a weekly e-newsletter.]
• Myles, what is the new deadline?
• Myles, How do people apply?
• What is it that people really need to know about applying for the program, such as the November 3rd deadline for requesting records from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency for use in applications and how applicants should be describing their discrimination and the amounts they need?
• Thank you for all of your hard work, Myles. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• Quincy and Candance, during our Training, we talked a lot about racial injustice and this USDA program is just a part addressing and recognizing the many forms of discrimination. Since the Houston Training, both of you have been on several other engagements with TJC. How was your experience different being a Team Leader?

SEGMENT FOUR

• As Team Leaders, what did you hear from your Team about their experiences?
• The next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training will be held on April 3rd – 7th, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona during the HBCU All-Stars 2024 games. What are your top arguments for why people should attend the next Training?
• The Transformative Justice Coalition is rolling through Kentucky and Ohio November 1st – 8th, 2023. Quincy, tell everyone why the election in Kentucky is so important? (non-partisan)
• Final Questions to guests:
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?