Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson allowed legislation to become law without his signature Monday that ends the use of critical race theory education for state agencies.
Hutchinson effectively approved SB 627 Monday, “an act to prohibit the propagation of divisive concepts” and “to review state entity training materials.” The legislation bans state agencies from teaching “divisive concepts,” including anything saying that the U.S. is fundamentally sexist or racist.
The law will take effect next year but does not apply to colleges, universities, public schools, local governments, or law enforcement training, according to The Associated Press.
“The bill does not address any problem that exists, and the paperwork and manpower requirements are unnecessary,” Hutchinson said in a statement, the publication reported.
Hutchinson previously drew fire for vetoing a ban on transgender surgeries for minors. The state Legislature voted to override Hutchinson’s veto, making Arkansas the first state to ban transgender surgeries and procedures for minors.
BREAKING: Arkansas passes legislation banning critical race theory indoctrination in public agencies. The bill will prohibit the state government from promoting race essentialism, collective guilt, and neo-segregation.
— Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) May 4, 2021
We are fearless; we are relentless; we are inevitable. pic.twitter.com/pj6Bu1Rvx7
Critical race theory holds that America is fundamentally racist, yet it teaches people to view every social interaction and person in terms of race. Its adherents pursue “antiracism” through the end of merit, objective truth, and the adoption of race-based policies.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently called critical race theory “a bunch of horse manure” during a late April interview on Fox News.
“Here’s the problems with the critical race theory that they’re peddling. They’re saying all of our institutions are bankrupt and illegitimate. OK, so how do you have a society if everything in your society is illegitimate?” DeSantis asked. “It’s a harmful ideology. I’d say a race-based version of a Marxist-type ideology.”
“We won’t put any taxpayer dollars to critical race theory and we want to treat people as individuals, not as members of groups,” he said.
Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little also signed a bill in late April banning public schools and universities from introducing critical race theory instruction if it forces students to view others through the discriminatory racial lenses.
Hutchinson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Caller News Foundation.
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