Testimony of Michael Mulgrew, UFT president, submitted before the New York City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Civil and Human Rights

Good afternoon. My name is Michael Mulgrew, and I am the president of the United Federation of Teachers. On behalf of our 200,000 members, I want to thank Education Chair Rita Joseph and the committees on Education and Civil and Human Rights for holding today’s hearing on advancing diversity and equity in New York City. This hearing is more important than ever as we face not only repeated attempts by the federal government to roll back diversity and equity initiatives in our city and across the country but also efforts to challenge the civil rights laws based on the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education decision over 70 years ago.

Recently, the president of the United States has sought to paint diversity and equity as slurs. He has claimed that efforts to promote these values are discriminatory and divisive. But, as residents of one of the most diverse cities in the world, we know that this is far from the truth.

Diversity is integral to our identity as New Yorkers and to the strength of our city and our nation. As educators, we welcome the richness and vibrancy that diversity brings to our classrooms. Heterogeneous learning environments strengthen students’ critical thinking skills and their ability to have challenging conversations. It shows them how to be empathetic toward others and prepares them to enter a world in which they will be surrounded by differences.

We also know that it is not enough to simply celebrate the benefits associated with increased diversity. We must also continue to push for more integrated schools and educational equity for all children in New York City. That’s why the UFT has joined our national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, in a string of lawsuits attempting to stop the federal government from eliminating these efforts. One of our most recent lawsuits sought to block the U.S. Department of Education from enforcing new civil rights guidance that targets a wide range of practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Even as we face threats in the coming months, it is critical that we remember who we are as New Yorkers and resist any efforts to curtail diversity and equity in our city and in our schools.