North Carolina GOP Gives Democrats Juneteenth Surprise

North Carolina’s Senate Judiciary Committee spent Juneteenth advancing a bill to gut the state’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs across every level of state and local government.

The measure — already through the House — would ban taxpayer dollars from funding DEI offices, training or hiring preferences, block agencies from taking federal grants with DEI strings attached, and saddle violators with personal civil liability. While Juneteenth is a federal holiday, it is not included in North Carolina’s list of holidays for state employees.

“Happy Juneteenth, everyone,” Democratic Sen. Lisa Grafstein said wryly after the vote, according to NC Newsline. Grafstein didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The bill carries heavy penalties: any official who signs off an a DEI program or accepts a grant with diversity requirement faces up to $10,000 in fines and a Class 1 misdemeanor charge. If Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signs the bill into law, North Carolina would become the first state to attach criminal penalties to DEI spending.

But the governor has long signaled support for DEI initiatives in his state, saying “schools and businesses should reflect the full strength and richness of our state’s diversity” in response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of affirmative action in 2023. Stein also