State legislators, along with a coalition of advocates, joined at the State Capitol Feb. 19 to condemn federal actions aimed at dismantling national Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, proclaiming that California will not abandon its core values.
The show of force was in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 89 (SCR 89), a measure to reaffirm the state’s commitment to DEI, authored by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles). The Southern California-based lawmaker is urging the legislature to support the resolution as a whole, calling out President Donald Trump and his administration’s dismantling of long standing civil rights and modern DEI initiatives as “rooted in anti-Black racism.”
Smallwood-Cuevas warned of dire consequences already being felt from Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“Addressing the structural disparities that we face in our own state is essential to the survival and the prosperity of California as a whole,” the lawmaker said. “We have seen efforts to vilify Black women in leadership, undermining the independence of the Federal Reserve. We have seen public servants like our Library of Congress attacked. DEI is our only vehicle for rolling back the protections for marginalized communities. California is already experiencing the repercussions.”
Smallwood-Cuevas said 10 state agencies and public university programs have faced DEI initiative reductions or shutdowns in the past year. Fear of retaliation and funding loss has led countless private businesses, universities, and nonprofits to scale back initiatives, resulting in thousands of terminated contracts, millions in expected job losses, and reduced services.
“Fewer resources, fewer protections, fewer pathways, fewer opportunities. California cannot turn back now,” she said.
Among those supporting the DEI double-down is Assemblymember Mia Bonta.
“(California) does not back down to bullies,” said Bonta, who represents Oakland and co-authored SCR 89.
“Diiversity, equity and inclusion aren’t “radical ideas,” Bonta said, but “foundational” to American values that are “interwoven” into the U.S. Constitution. She notes that related principles– 13th Amendment, the 14th Amendment, the 15th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965– are “baked into the laws that built this nation.”
“These were DEI moments,” Bonta said. “DEI is in America’s DNA.”
Other leaders are sharing how federal rollbacks are uniquely harmful to their communities. “For women, especially women of color, DEI is essential because it addresses barriers that have existed for generations,” said Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), who leads the Women’s Caucus.
“Women of color often face a double burden–gender bias layered with racial bias,” Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry continued. “Diversity ensures that women of all backgrounds have a seat at the table.”
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), one of only two dozen Black women to ever serve in the California State Legislature, also supports SCR 89, stating that her unique life experiences “bring value to making public policies” and are “the center of DEI in this state and in this nation.”
“I was elected to California State Assembly not because I’m a Black woman, but my service to my constituents, to my district and to the people of the state of California have been and will continue to be influenced by my unique life experience, and that’s a good thing,” said McKinnor, who chairs the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation.
“This federal government is actively trying to silence the voices that are making decisions. This federal government is actively trying to silence the voices of people who look like me, but I will not be silenced,” she continued.
San Diego Assemblymember Chris Ward, who chairs the LGBTQ Caucus, says attacks on DEI weaken anti-discrimination protections, eliminate inclusive hiring practices and make it harder for workers, especially pregnant individuals, people of color, transgender individuals and those with disabilities, to access good jobs, fair pay and safe working conditions. He says efforts to roll back DEI are about exclusion, erasing history, limiting opportunity, and deciding who gets left behind.
Tiffany Whiten of the labor union, SEIU California, linked the attacks on DEI to broader efforts to undermine labor and divide working people, arguing that the true motive is about “power and money” and “keeping working people divided so that the ultra wealthy can continue to concentrate wealth at the top.”
“We’ve seen Black women fired in record numbers. We’ve seen immigrant families targeted,” White said.
SCR 89, she says, “affirms that California chooses a different path.”
Some have taken a “this too shall pass” stance and others say action is needed, that they’re not simply waiting for Trump’s reign to be over. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas is focused on the future and rebuilding what the current administration has worked to tear down.
“When this is all over, when this administration is long gone, and we certainly know we will make that happen, we will see a new era of civil rights, diversity, equity and inclusion programs that we know Californians deserve,” she said.
Governor Newsom notably demonstrated California’s commitment to equity-driven governance with the 2022 executive order, N-16-22, which mandates state agencies to integrate equity analyses into all decision-making.