Birmingham Mayor Woodfin: Black Athletes Should Avoid Alabama Schools if Anti-DEI Bill Passes

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said he will have no problem steering Black athletes away from colleges and universities in Alabama if state lawmakers passed a bill that would prohibit public institutions of higher education from maintaining diversity, equity and programs and offices. On Wednesday, a Senate Committee advanced the bill — SB 129 — which now goes to the full Alabama Senate. The proposed law “would prohibit certain public entities, including state agencies, local boards of education and public institutions of higher learning, from maintaining a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or department or sponsoring any diversity, equity, and inclusion program.” On social media, Woodfin said he’s the biggest Bama fan but “will have no problem organizing Black parents and athletes to attend other institutions outside of the state where diversity and inclusion are prioritized.” The mayor questioned why parents of Black athletes would want to send their children to any school in the state that discouraged diversity. “To the parents of minority athletes who are helping their children decide if they want to play sports at those institutions: Would you be cool with your child playing at schools where diversity among staff...