Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA) delivered a forceful message on the House floor, making clear that Republican efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs will not erase Black communities from Washington, D.C. — or anywhere else in America.
In a video clip from her remarks, Lee directly called out the intent behind GOP-backed legislation:
“You can introduce DEI laws, but at the end of the day, you are not going to erase Black people from the District of Columbia or any other place,” she said.
Lee linked the push to eliminate DEI programs to what she described as a pattern of political rhetoric aimed at underfunded and under-resourced Black communities.
She accused Republicans of selectively focusing on crime in those areas while “ignoring crime in the White House and in their own houses.”
The congresswoman’s comments come amid broader national debates over the future of DEI initiatives, which Republicans across multiple states have sought to ban from schools, workplaces, and government programs. Supporters argue DEI efforts are critical to advancing racial equity, while opponents claim they amount to preferential treatment.
Lee’s unapologetic defense of Black communities underscores the ongoing tension in Congress around issues of race, representation, and systemic inequality.
