State AGs ask Biden to withdraw education proposals supporting 1619 Project, critical race theory

A coalition of 20 state attorneys general called Wednesday for the Biden administration to withdraw education proposals that, they argue, are meant to promote critical race theory and the New York Times’ “1619 Project” in classrooms.

In a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the group, led by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, argued the proposal was a "thinly veiled attempt" to introduce the "deeply flawed and controversial teachings of Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project" to students. "The Department should not adopt the proposed rule or, at a minimum, should make clear that grants may not fund projects that are based on CRT, including any projects that characterize the United States as irredeemably racist or founded on principles of racism (as opposed to principles of equality) or that purport to ascribe character traits, values, privileges, status, or beliefs, or that assign fault, blame, or bias, to a particular race or to an individual because of his or her race," the letter said. Attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia signed the letter.