By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
An A-list of Black public policy leaders gathered to honor the legacy of Bowie State University graduate, 1st Lt. Richard Collins, who died of a hate-motivated stabbing in front of the University of Maryland in 2017.
The policy leaders and Bowie State and the University of Maryland’s Social Justice Alliance students, faculty, staff and community supporters gathered for a frank conversation led by public policy thought leaders who offered a troubling assessment of the state of American Democracy at the conclusion of the first 100 days of the current President’s second term in the White House.
MSNBC’s Symone Sanders moderated the panel in a candid conversation about America’s current political climate. Students, faculty and staff from Bowie State and the University of Maryland, College Park, met on April 18 for the annual tribute to Collins.
“The conversation we are having today in this day and time is dangerous. It shouldn’t be, but it is,” Saunders said, referring to the challenges American campuses are facing as the White House asserts itself into operating policies of college campuses.
One of the first Executive Orders issued by the current President on Jan. 20 called for the elimination of DEI programs in all Federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding, including colleges and universities.
“What the hell is going on?” Saunders asked her panelists?
For the next hour, Karine-Jean Pierre, former press secretary and special advisor to President Joe Biden; Maryland Con. Glenn Ivey, Nicole Austin Hillary, president CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.; social media commentator Elizabeth Booker Houston and Maryland State Sen. Alonzo T. Washington, held nothing back, announcing democracy in America is already in jeopardy and the time to start resisting is now.
Ivey set the tone for the afternoon, shooting straight for the Trump administration’s attempts to curtail social justice. “The reality is cultural, social and intellectual attacks are foundational support to the overall attack on social justice in America,” Ivey said.
Ivey added that federal efforts are being reinforced by state restrictions on diversity, like Florida’s ban on DEI offices and courses in education. Over 19 states currently have laws prohibiting DEI in some form, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
“This is a five-alarm fire,” added Jean-Pierre. “If we are not out there speaking our truth, protesting, speaking out, then we are not paying attention. This is exactly how it starts. He’s heading us into a dictatorship,” Jean-Pierre said about the direction of the Trump administration. “If we are fearful and we do not speak up, that is them winning. The chaos is the goal,” she added.
“No one can take away from us our ability to educate ourselves, to put together policy and tools and a roadmap for our success,” Austin-Hillary said about the role for the Congressional Black Caucus and all Black Americans at this time.
Austin-Hillary said the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has assembled an Executive Order Tracker to inform the public on how Trump administration executive orders are impacting the Black Community.
Rashawn Ray, professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Matasha Harris, associate professor of Criminal Justice, co-chairs of the Social Justice Alliance, said universities must work together to face the current political climate in America.
“I am satisfied that we were able to bring in change leaders to press forward in reference and rise concerning Democracy at this perilous time,” said Harris.
Ray looks to the future with hope.
“Together we represent what is possible when institutions come together for a common cause,” Ray said.