Column: HB 544 codifies culture of oppression
Modified: 4/20/2021 10:20:02 PM
As freshman New Hampshire state senators, we feel compelled to express our strong opposition to House Bill 544. The language of HB 544 seeks to ban state agencies, K-12 schools, public colleges and universities, and state contractors from teaching certain “divisive concepts” like race and sex.
What this actually means is that discussions about systemic racism, gender inequality and other important aspects of our country’s history will be muzzled under the guise of neutrality and equality. But this is doublespeak. This bill perpetuates and codifies a culture of silence, inaction, unequal treatment, and oppression — and creates even more division in our state.