MORRISVILLE, NC, July 03, 2025 —Today, Governor Josh Stein vetoed House Bill 171 (HB 171), Senate Bill 227 (SB 227), Senate Bill 558 (SB 558), and House Bill 805 (HB 605) providing a critical defense towards legislation designed to erase Black, Latine, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Indigenous, differently-abled, and LGBTQ+ North Carolinians from public life.
If passed, HB 171, SB 227, SB 558, and HB 805 would:
- Prohibit state agencies, local governments, and schools from maintaining or implementing initiatives or programs that center diverse backgrounds and experiences
- Abolish positions dedicated to racial equity across state government
- Threaten public employees with termination or criminal charges for promoting racial justice
- Weaponize survivor protection legislation to attack transgender people
- Define “biological sex” to erase transgender dignity and deny healthcare to incarcerated trans people
- Empower parents to censor classroom content about racism and LGBTQ+ identities
- Enable systematic removal of books by Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ authors from school libraries
“These bills represent nothing less than a coordinated assault on racial justice and human dignity,” said Adrienne Kelly, Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina. “The question before lawmakers now is simple: Will they stand with the Governor in defending equality and inclusion, or will they continue down a path that diminishes our state’s values and divides our communities?”
Democracy North Carolina urges all North Carolinians to contact their representatives and demand they sustain these crucial vetoes. The organization stands ready to mobilize grassroots support and hold lawmakers accountable. Learn more at demnc.co/protectdei and demnc.co/protecttranskids.
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MORRISVILLE, NC, June 26, 2025 —Today, North Carolina lawmakers have declared war on equality with the passage of House Bill 171 (HB 171) and Senate Bills 227 and 558, dismantling decades of civil rights progress and systematically excluding entire communities from public life. The bills don’t just attack diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—they weaponize state power to resegregate public institutions, silence marginalized voices, and strip away the basic promise of equal opportunity that defines American democracy.
“Make no mistake: The crusade against DEI is not about ‘merit’ or ‘excellence.’ It is about power and exclusion,” said Adrienne Kelly, Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina. “As an organization dedicated to protecting voting rights and democratic participation, we recognize this assault for what it truly is—the age-old white supremacist backlash against any social progress for marginalized people.”
A particular concern with HB 171 are the enforcement mechanisms that threaten public employees with termination, civil lawsuits, or Class 1 misdemeanor charges for promoting inclusive workplaces. The bill also grants the State Auditor broad powers to conduct audits and punish violations of the statute. By eliminating diversity considerations in hiring, abolishing dedicated DEI positions, and banning training that acknowledges the lived experiences of our neighbors, certain lawmakers are sending a chilling message: Black, Latine, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Indigenous, differently-abled, and LGBTQ+ North Carolinians are not welcome in their vision of the state.
“This is voter suppression extended into every corner of our democratic institutions,” Kelly warned. “When you criminalize efforts to make our government more representative and inclusive, you’re attacking the very principle that democracy works best when all voices are heard. Yesterday’s ‘political correctness’ and ‘wokeness’ accusations have evolved into today’s anti-DEI crusade, but the goal remains unchanged: to roll back the hard-won victories of Reconstruction, Civil Rights, and every movement that has pushed America toward true democracy.”
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Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to strengthen democratic structures, build power among disenfranchised communities, and inspire confidence in a transformed political process that works for all.
