Senator Gaston: Fight Isn’t Against DEI – It’s Against Democracy

Don’t let them tell you that this fight is about “DEI.” The pushback we’re seeing across the country — against diversity, equity, and inclusion — is not about policy. It’s not about merit. And it certainly isn’t about protecting democracy.

It’s about power.

From the beginning, this country has been shaped by its diversity. Even the very first U.S. Census in 1790 showed that nearly 1 in 5 people in this country were Black — most of them enslaved, some of them free — but all part of the fabric of this nation from the very beginning. America was never a homogenous nation. It was always a mosaic — built by Native people, enslaved Africans, European immigrants, and countless others who labored, resisted, and dreamed.

Today’s attempts to erase or roll back DEI efforts ignore that legacy and rewrite history to fit a false narrative of exclusion.

But diversity alone isn’t enough. That’s where equity comes in. In our representative democracy, we’ve long recognized that fairness sometimes requires recognizing difference. When Idaho, a small state, had 7 delegates at its constitutional convention and California had 15 — the principle wasn’t about dominance. It was about balance. Every state, regardless of size, has a voice. That’s not a flaw — it’s a feature. Because equity doesn’t mean equal numbers; it means fair opportunity and meaningful participation for all.

And that principle extends beyond state lines. It extends to race, gender, religion, ability, and economic background. When we dismantle DEI frameworks, we’re not eliminating “special treatment.” We’re removing the scaffolding that makes true equality possible.

Let’s not forget: America was born out of dissent. Our Founding Fathers challenged a monarchy. Our Constitution enshrines the right to protest, to speak freely, to hold power accountable. From abolitionists to suffragists to civil rights leaders, our greatest progress has come when the people challenged the status quo.

Yet today, some of those same rights are under attack.

We saw it on January 6th, when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempted coup. Many walked away with no consequences — some even celebrated or pardoned. Compare that with peaceful protestors in cities across America — people marching against police violence, against systemic racism — who were tear-gassed, beaten, and jailed.

What message does that send? That violence in defense of white supremacy is tolerable, but peaceful resistance in pursuit of justice is criminal?

This is not just hypocrisy. It’s dangerous.

There is a coordinated effort to rewrite American history — to ban books, silence teachers, and vilify those who speak truth to power. But we know the truth. We’ve lived it. And we refuse to be erased.

Today, I stand on business. I speak for those who are told they don’t belong. For those whose voices are drowned out, whose histories are denied, whose dreams are deferred. We will not bow. We will not be silent. As was once said to Pharaoh, we say again today: Let my people go.

And as we say as a collective — don’t come for us unless we send for you.