Ohio official drops out of MLK Day lunch after being told he can't mention DEI
Commissioner Kevin Boyce said he was told not to mention diversity, equity and inclusion during his keynote speech for the Columbus VA's annual MLK lunch.
An Ohio politician said he was told not to mention diversity, equity and inclusion during his keynote speech at the Columbus VA's annual MLK luncheon.
Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce said organizers contacted him two hours before the event to inform him that he can’t mention DEI or anything “politically charged” in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI efforts.
“I get a call about two hours before the speech, and they say, ‘Hey, we're looking forward to hearing from you. But just FYI, you can't talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in your remarks,” said Boyce, who was asked to deliver the keynote months ago.
“It was an insult,” said Boyce, who became Franklin County's first Black county commissioner in 2017. “It was an insult to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. It was an insult to my own personal journey that they asked me to talk about.”
Boyce is in his ninth year as county commissioner and has held office in Ohio for over 25 years. He has served in various roles statewide, from Columbus City Council member to state treasurer.
He was asked to share his own personal story of public service and connect it to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which Boyce said cannot be done without mentioning the words diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“How can I talk about my journey and MLK Jr without discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially given the [Trump] administration's executive order? If that’s the case, I would respectfully decline and say you should probably find another speaker,” he said.
Boyce further explained that he only decided to make a statement because the organizers threatened to tell the public that he canceled on them.
“They called back to say, ‘Hey, if you don’t come, we’re going to put it out there that you just canceled on us. And I said that’s not true. You called me, and you made that choice. And I said, you can't tell me that I can't mention diversity, equity, inclusion,” said Boyce, calling the entire ordeal an “absurd violation of his First Amendment rights.”
Stacia Ruby, spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs, said the Columbus VA is “no longer focusing on DEI” and is working to reschedule the event.
"As a result of this speaker’s cancellation, Columbus VA Ambulatory Care Center is working to reschedule the event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. VA is no longer focusing on DEI and is recommitting itself to its core mission: providing the best possible care and benefits to veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors,” the spokesperson said in a statement provided to What I’m Reading.
Despite the ordeal, Boyce hopes that this incident will inspire more conversation about DEI, not less.
“We should embrace the tough conversations. Good, bad, or indifferent,” he explained. “It’s important to have conversations so that we understand all perspectives and move accordingly.”
“Everyone asks, ‘Are you upset at Trump because of the order?’ No. I'm more concerned about the fact that the masses chose Trump to be president knowing his position in these areas,” he continued. “I think that speaks more to what the priorities of the country are.”
1. The government is suppressing freedom of speech? 🤔
2. Claiming to honor MLK while banning mention of DEI is some real cognitive dissonance.
3. I second the commenter who said he should have gone to the event and told the audience why he couldn't give his speech.
Separating Dr. King Jr. from DEI is like separating salsa from Mexican food. What a farce. The country is racist. Plain and simple. MAGA and their BIPOC servants want to return to Jim Crow.