TSEU-CWA Members Hold "Stop The Purge" Rally

Members of the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU-CWA Local 6186) hosted a rally last week calling on University of Texas (UT) officials to “Stop the Purge.” At the beginning of the month, UT abruptly fired nearly 60 staff, mostly women and people of color, working in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office and programs.

These firings come in response to the passage last year of Texas SB 17, which requires universities receiving public funds to close diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices. It also prohibits asking new hires for a DEI statement to show their understanding of the concepts and how they would incorporate diversity into their role. That law went into effect at the start of 2024.

To help fight these layoffs, TSEU enlisted support from the American Association of University Professors, AAUP/AFT Students for DEI, Underpaid at UT Austin Justice Coalition Students for a Democratic Society, and the Texas Freedom Network. Guest speakers at the rally included Gary Bledsoe, President, Texas NAACP; Karma Chavez, AAUP UT-Branch, TSEU; and Rick Levy, President, Texas AFL-CIO.