State of Michigan

11/22/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/23/2021 00:46

Michigan Civil Rights Commission Passes Resolution in Support of Academic Freedom and Opposition to Censorship

Contact:
Vicki Levengood [email protected]
Agency:Civil Rights

November 22, 2021

LANSING, MI--At their meeting on Monday, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission passed a resolution calling for academic freedom and opposition to censorship in Michigan's public schools.

"Students have the right to a complete, accurate and truthful education, especially on issues with serious societal implications and ramifications," said Stacie Clayton, Chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. "The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is committed to academic freedom and an equitable, comprehensive and historically exact education for all of Michigan's children."

The Commission specifically pointed to two bills introduced in the state legislature - SB 460, which would ban teaching of Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project, and HB 5097, that censors classroom speech and classifies race and gender variables as "stereotypes."

The resolution closes by reaffirming the Commission's support of "academic freedom in Michigan public schools" and its opposition to SB 460 and HB 5097, and "any and all legislation that promotes censorship and book banning."

"These bills are anathema to our core principles of truth, justice and fairness. Teachers are trained to deliver fact-based and accurate information, which is essential for students to grow into informed and engaged adults in our society," said Chair Clayton. "Their teachings should be factual with no ethnicities, languages, races, or cultures removed."

To read the complete text of the resolution passed by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, click here.

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution to safeguard constitutional and legal guarantees against discrimination. The Commission is charged with investigating alleged discrimination against any person because of religion, race, color or national origin, genetic information, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, and physical and mental disability. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights serves as the operational arm of the Commission.

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