CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, Republicans on the House Executive Departments and Administration committee voted to support HB 544, a bill that would ban individuals, agencies including schools, and businesses contracted with the state from speaking on certain “divisive concepts” like race and sex. Committee member Rep. Jean Jeudy (D-Manchester) released the following statement:
“The Republican attack on our education system has extended to a suppression of free speech through legislation popping up across the country like HB 544 in House Executive Departments and Administration today. Legislation like this is a direct result of the former Trump Administration’s assault on underrepresented peoples in our democratic process under the guise that acknowledging areas where humanity can improve is “un-American,” when we know that accountability, grace, love, and understanding should be the foundations of the American experience. Any inappropriate teaching of “divisive concepts” that this bill references does not exist in New Hampshire; however, the existence of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia does exist in the Granite State. New Hampshire’s large population is full of diversity, including people like me. This bill, apart from being unconstitutional, would detract not contribute to healing our divides and I strongly oppose it. We cannot shy away, or worse, ban as this bill intends, talking about the real experiences of our friends and neighbors.”
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