Reject Educational Censorship
Updated 1/28/21
Tell Reps to Reject Educational Censorship
House Bill 1218 and House Bill 1231, both filed by Representative Mark Lowery of Maumelle, are based on the misguided idea that we can create "unity" by silencing any discussion on issues like race, gender, religion, class, or political affiliation.
These bills are getting national press attention, and make our state look backwards. We need to be able to attract new business and keep our young people and working here.
If you have a Representative on the House Education Committee: urge them to OPPOSE HB1218 and HB1231
Our students can handle the truth. Do not legislate educational censorship.
These bills are steeped in racist history, and do not represent our values as Arkansans.
No one is going to move their businesses and new jobs to a state that teaches inaccurate history. We’ll continue to see talented young professionals leave Arkansas.
If you have a Democrat House member, and know they plan to oppose these bills, you might consider sending them an email, thanking them for doing the right thing. Please don’t blow up their phones!
Ways to Contact Your Representative:
Call or text them at their contact # list on their House page here
Email them at their email address found here
In the SUBJECT line, include “OPPOSE HB1218 TO PROHIBIT OFFERING COURSES, EVENTS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT ISOLATE STUDENTS” or “OPPOSE HB1231 TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS TO TEACH THE 1619 PROJECT CURRICULUM”
Legislators do not have time to read all their emails during session!
During the business day when House is “in session,” call the House chamber, (501)682-6211
ask them to please pass a “pink slip” message to your representative that says:
to “Oppose HB1218 prohibiting courses, events, and activities that isolate students” and/or to “Oppose HB1231 to prohibit use of public school funds to teach the 1619 Project”
Arkansas House Education Committee Members
Chair - Representative Representative Bruce Cozart
Vice-Chair - Representative Brian S. Evans
Representative Rick Beck
Representative Ken Bragg
Representative Karilyn Brown
Representative Gary Deffenbaugh
Representative Charlene Fite
Representative Megan Godfrey
Representative Steve Hollowell
Representative Lee Johnson
Representative Fredrick J. Love
Representative Mark Lowery
Representative John Maddox
Representative Gayla H. McKenzie
Representative Stephen Meeks
Representative Reginald Murdock
Representative Stu Smith
Representative Nelda Speaks
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Representative Richard Womack
More on these bills:
Maumelle Representative Mark Lowery, with Senator Gary Stubblefield and Senator Mark Johnson, has filed two bills so far that aim to white-wash American history.
HB1218: forbids any public school or college from teaching courses that would “isolate” students by race, gender, political affiliation, or social class. It would act as a gag rule on any curriculum relating to race, gender, etc, and white-wash teaching of America’s history of slavery, civil rights, suffrage, etc.
HB1231: to prohibit use of public school funds to teach 1619 Project Curriculum and to reduce funds to schools that do teach it. The 1619 Project curriculum asks students to examine the history and the legacy of slavery in the United States, as well as our national memory.
If schools don’t comply, they risk losing 10% of their state funding. Threatening schools with pulling funding for teaching facts is wrong.