Jacksonville organizations continue to push back against DCPS’s updated DEI policy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville community members remained persistent in sending a message to the Duval County School Board about their disapproval of recent changes to the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion policy.

Despite the issue not being included on the school board’s Tuesday night meeting agenda, multiple organizations, including Public School Defenders, rallied outside DCPS to advocate for equity in schools.

Parents and community members rallied outside Duval County Schools to advocate for equity in Duval schools. (WJXT)

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The school board stated that the changes were implemented to comply with the executive order from the Trump administration, but some individuals felt that the district was acting prematurely.

“Executive order does not make it law, because Congress was not involved, and there are federal, state and local laws that’s still intact, that we still need to abide by,” Therese Gamble said, who spoke during public comment.

Gabriela Diaz-Vendrell, executive director for Our Florida, is also a former DCPS student. She also identifies as queer.

She said the removal of books from shelves and the potential changes to DEI policies are deeply concerning.

“I contemplated taking my own life and what took me out of that environment and that head space was everything that my classrooms, my teachers, my friends and my peers were able to provide me as a network of support,” Diaz-Vendrell said.

Parents and community members rallied outside Duval County Schools to advocate for equity in Duval schools. (WJXT)

Gamble worried that the standard changes would cause more harm to students rather than support.

“Why are we putting this oppression on our students?” Gamble said. “Censoring our teachers? Our teachers are the ones that equipped all of us. We have a different dynamic of students. These students now have to compete globally.”

Diaz-Vendrell wanted the resources to stay in place because they could be life-saving for students.

“I just think about how those were the resources that allowed me to navigate that situation and allowed me to even be here right now, and taking that away potentially takes away that life-saving opportunity for another student,” Diaz-Vendrell said.