Michael Frazier, founder and director of Kentucky Student Rights Coalition, spoke in favor of the revised legislation. He said, while resource rooms and student centers provide essential community space to diverse groups, DEI offices can act as a veneer, sterilizing the concerns of students for the benefit of their institutions.
“We’ve heard students, including diverse students, say that if you speak truth to power, if you speak on these problems, then we might not be able to consider you for jobs. You’re causing problems to the institution when you speak out against racism. We might need to watch that," said Frazier. "In fact, this has happened at the University of Kentucky when a student tried to hang up banners talking about racism on campus in 2019.”
Critics said they feel the bill was rushed through. Sam Fowler attended to speak in opposition to the bill which, he said, doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
“These bills - and I’ll use ‘these bills’ since, in the last 24 hours, SB 6 has become HB 9 - are part of a national template created by a few of your first speakers today, including the Heritage Foundation and the Manhattan Institute," said Fowler. "These are national bills playing across this country. They are not coming out of Kentucky and Kentucky does not need these bills.”
The bill’s senate sponsor, Mike Wilson, was not present at the meeting. SB 6 passed committee with thirteen “yes” votes, three “no” votes, and two “pass” votes. One of the “pass” votes was Representative Kevin Jackson.
“After talking to Senator Wilson this morning, he didn’t know what had happened to his Senate Bill 6," said Jackson.
SB 6 now heads to the House floor.