Austin City Council members, NAACP condemn UT Austin layoffs of former-DEI staff members

The Texas State Employees Union and local leaders at a "Rally for our UT" decried the terminations of 49 University of Texas employees on April 2 as overcompliance with Senate Bill 17, a controversial state law that went into effect in January and bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and initiatives at public universities.

"They made this university better," Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas Chapter of the NAACP, said at Monday's rally.

The UT Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Texas Students for DEI, Austin Justice Coalition, Texas Students for DEI, Underpaid at UT, Trans Texas and Students for a Democratic Society were also listed as participating groups.

Adjacent to the rally, UT faculty members, donning graduation robes, held a vigil for "scholasticide" — calling attention to the destruction of education institutions, professors and people in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Before the rally, the UT Austin chapter of AAUP sent a letter of no confidence to university President Jay Hartzell signed by 539 faculty members. The no confidence letter was prompted by both the DEI-related terminations and the police presence at a pro-Palestinian protest at UT on April 24, when officers arrested 57 demonstrators and charged them with criminal trespassing. All charges were later dropped.

More: 500+ faculty members sign letter of no confidence against UT president over protests, DEI

"What happened last week would not have happened if we had a DEI program that was accepted and respected," Bledsoe said. "We would have understood that all that was last week was a reasonable, peaceful protest."

During the Monday rally, where dozens were gathered, students led chants saying, "DEI is justified, SB 17 is a lie" and "UT you let us down, firing staff who held our ground."

Bledsoe said that both decisions by UT were a violation of First Amendment rights, and expressed concern that those who were terminated are "losing a position because of their previous association with DEI."

"That is unbelievable," he said.

UT did not respond to American-Statesman requests for comment about the rally. Hartzell previously told staff and faculty members at their respective council meetings that the terminations were due to the university reorganizing after SB 17 went into effect. He said he believes the university was compliant by Jan. 1, when the law went into effect, but that "it's been clear from the writings and reports since then, some disagree."

"It's been extremely disheartening to witness my dream school deteriorate right in front of my eyes," said a student, who spoke about the loss of the Multicultural Engagement Center and the April 2 closure of the Women's Community Center and the Division of Campus and Community Engagement.

"The university I was promised to attend has been forced to transform into an institution that has been unwilling to stand for student voices that are contrary to the agenda that was placed upon it," said Neto, a UT student who did not provide his last name.

Austin City Council members also came to show their support for UT students.

"I don't fully recognize my university anymore," said Council Member Zo Qadri, who attended UT, referring to both the terminations and the police force called to halt the April 24 protest. "It's embarrassing, it's not who we are or it's not who we should be."

Council Member Vanessa Fuentes also spoke about her support for students, telling them, "We have your back." Fuentes said she has been approached by students who are raising funds to hold cultural graduations, which were previously funded by the now-shuttered Multicultural Engagement Center.

The rally was later interrupted by a surprise encampment pro-Palestinian protesters set up on the South Mall around 12:45 p.m. Police on Monday arrested 79 people at that UT protest and encampment.

No official vote of no confidence has been called by the UT Faculty Council.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Councilmembers, NAACP condemn layoffs of former-DEI staff at UT Austin