Across the country, we’re witnessing an unprecedented and highly coordinated campaign to undermine public education, suppress civil rights protections, and target historically marginalized communities under the false banners of “freedom” and “parental rights.” At the center of this movement is a push to defund and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—the federal agency charged with enforcing educational equity and access across this nation.
On April 29th at 7:00 PM EST, I’ll be joining the NAACP New Jersey State Conference for a timely and urgent virtual event: “Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education: A Direct Threat to American Education.”
This isn’t just a webinar. It’s a wake-up call.
This is about more than bureaucratic restructuring. It’s about a deliberate, ideological effort to strip away the rights of students—especially Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ students, as well as students with disabilities. It’s about erasing history, criminalizing protest, silencing truth, and dismantling the mechanisms that have slowly—though never perfectly—expanded opportunity in American education.
And that’s why I’m speaking out. That’s why I’m inviting you to join me.
🔗 Register for the April 29 event here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tQpOeD9cTnSF5s6Szp9-Nw
A Career of Advocacy, Rooted in the NAACP
My commitment to educational justice is not recent. It’s woven into the story of my life. I’m a life member of the NAACP—an organization that has stood on the front lines of civil rights for more than a century.
Over the years, I’ve served as statewide Education Chair and on the executive boards of both the Kentucky and California-Hawai’i State Conferences of the NAACP. I currently serve as Chair of the National NAACP Education Taskforce, working alongside educators and advocates across the country to protect students from harmful policy rollbacks.
This work has taken me from grassroots organizing to national policymaking. I’ve spoken at local and state NAACP meetings and conventions, partnered with local units on community equity campaigns, and testified on behalf of the NAACP on issues ranging from the school-to-prison pipeline to disparities in school funding. From classrooms to capitols, my mission has been clear: to ensure that every child—regardless of race, zip code, or income—has access to a fully funded, fully inclusive, high-quality education.
Why This Moment Demands Our Full Attention
What we are seeing now is not just political overreach. It is part of a broader authoritarian project designed to destabilize public education as a democratic institution.
In the name of fighting “wokeness,” entire DEI offices focused on student and faculty success are being dismantled, libraries are banning classic works by authors like Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison, and students are being surveilled, censored, or even deported for peaceful protest. At the center of this push is a campaign to abolish the U.S. Department of Education—a move that would have devastating consequences for civil rights enforcement and access to equitable education.
Let’s be clear: eliminating the Department of Education would likely gut timely Title VI and Title IX enforcement, impact funding for students with disabilities, undermine language access rights, and likely reduce pecuniary and non-pecuniary support for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.
A Legal Battle That Demands Our Support
In response to this coordinated attack, the NAACP and the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) have filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the Department of Education’s unlawful efforts to restrict DEI and equity programming.
“The Department of Education’s recent communications are a gross distortion of reality that attempts to erase the lived experiences of millions of Black and Brown children in this country” NAACP President Derrick Johnson
The lawsuit specifically challenges a “Dear Colleague” letter, issued on February 14, 2025, followed by guidance and certification requirements aimed at defunding schools that engage in equity-focused programming. The suit argues that the Department is misinterpreting Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and using that flawed interpretation to punish grantees serving Black students.
As the NAACP states:
“We are asking the court to act swiftly… and will continue to advocate for students of color to be treated fairly and equitably.”
This lawsuit is about protecting the civil rights of every student in America. The NAACP isn’t just suing on behalf of organizations—it’s suing on behalf of parents and students in every state of the nation.
The NAACP Is Built for This Moment—So Join Us
The NAACP is not just watching from the sidelines. We are mobilizing.
“So glad to be a part of this great organization. Setting an example for my kids. Being a part of the change I want to see in the world. Starting in my own community.” — Gwenveria S., NAACP member
With over 2 million members and activists, we fight on every front:
- 🗳️ Democracy & Voting
- 🎓 Education Innovation
- 🌍 Environmental & Climate Justice
- 💼 Inclusive Economy
- ⚖️ Race & Justice
- 🏥 Health & Well-being
- 👥 Next Generation Leadership
If you believe in civil rights, join us. Become a member. Renew your membership. Volunteer. Take action.
🖤 Join and receive a free t-shirt: naacp.org/join
Why You Should Join Webinar on April 29th
This NAACP New Jersey event is more than a discussion. It’s part of a coordinated, strategic response to reclaim public education and defend democracy.
We will address:
- The coordinated political campaign to dismantle the Department of Education
- The weaponization of DEI rhetoric to silence dissent
- How higher education, public schools, and students of color are being harmed
- What we can do—right now—to organize, advocate, and push back
I’m joining NAACP voices from across the country to map the path forward. And I want you there.
Final Words: Let’s Make History Together
The NAACP was born in 1909 out of a moment of national racial crisis. Today, more than a century later, we are facing another turning point.
The people trying to dismantle the Department of Education are not interested in student success or family empowerment. They are interested in power—in controlling what is taught, who is heard, and whose future matters.
But we’ve been here before. And every time, we’ve answered the call.
📅 Date: April 29, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM EST
🔗 Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tQpOeD9cTnSF5s6Szp9-Nw
Let’s make sure the next generation knows we didn’t just watch this moment happen—we rose to meet it.