On Friday, college students across Kentucky rallied on their campuses against the anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) legislation in the commonwealth.
“Kentucky Day of DEI” included rallies at all eight public universities in the state.
Northern Kentucky University students gathered on the Student Union plaza with signs, chalk and a megaphone to rally against House Bill 4 (HB 4).
“Today we are really here to amplify our voices, to basically be heard and let this cause be known that this is affecting not only the black community but the LGBTQ community,” said Jathan Briscoe, School of the Arts (SOTA) student. “They need to know that this is hurting us in numerous ways.”
NKU junior Tyana Rasberry coordinated the event, and other students who felt passionately arrived with signs and flags representing many communities, including people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Regan Board held a sign that said, “Stop trying to stop progression.”
“The recent legislation has been setting us back decades of work and we need to stop that,” Board said.
The university offers an organization called NKU R.O.C.K.S to help Black freshmen adjust to college. Some members of the organization were present at the rally in fear of losing funding and their organization closing.
“The entire system [of NKU R.O.C.K.S.] is designed to give students a space to actually see people who look like them, who have that same sense of culture,” said Justin Stokes, member of R.O.C.K.S and president of the Black Men’s Organization. “Without that, they are gonna have that feeling of isolation, that feeling of, ‘There’s nobody else that looks like me, so why should I stay here?’”
The rallies continued at noon as students were given the opportunity to use the megaphone and share their message to the group. Students led chants, read poems and expressed how DEI has impacted them.
Then at 1 p.m. the group marched around campus while chanting.
The university made a statement on Friday in response to the rallies.
“We respect the rights of our students to express their views and engage in peaceful protest,” the statement read. “We are committed to fostering an environment where a wide variety of thoughts and opinions are encouraged and supported.”
HB 4 moved to the House Postsecondary Education Committee but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.