The North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers (NCABL), an organization with a long and proud history of defending the rights and equality of all North Carolinians, voices its strong and unequivocal opposition of House Bill 171. This deeply harmful piece of legislation would ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in state agencies, undermining decades of effort to ensure fair opportunities for all North Carolinians.
House Bill 171 is a regressive measure that threatens to reverse years of vital progress for marginalized communities—particularly Black North Carolinians. The language of the bill seeks to codify and perpetuate discriminatory practices designed to harm our state’s workforce, restrict access to educational opportunities, and limit the ability of local governments to effectively serve their diverse constituencies. At its core, this bill sends a chilling message: that equality, fairness, and representation have no place in our public institutions.
NCABL stands firmly in defense of DEI programs, which are essential tools for dismantling the systemic barriers that have long excluded underrepresented communities from access to power, education, employment, and justice. Eliminating these initiatives does not erase inequality—it entrenches it.
Moreover, House Bill 171 is part of a broader and deeply troubling national trend—one aimed at silencing dissent, erasing history, and rolling back hard-won civil rights protections under the false premise of neutrality. NCABL is dedicated to upholding the Constitution and advancing justice, and we recognize this bill for what it is: an assault on progress and a denial of our shared democratic values.
We urge the members of the North Carolina General Assembly to reject House Bill 171 and instead pursue policies that expand opportunity, protect civil liberties, and promote justice for all people—regardless of race, background, or belief.
History will remember where each of us stood. NCABL stands unwaveringly on the side of equity, inclusion, and justice.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Moore
President
North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers