Holding the Line: Resisting the Anti-DEI Agenda Through State and Local Power

The second Trump administration has barely begun, but the wave of harmful policies we feared is already here—driven not only by the White House and Congress but also by an unelected, unaccountable billionaire class. What was once a dystopian blueprint in Project 2025 is rapidly becoming reality, reshaping the country in ways that will be especially devastating for Black communities.

By dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and rolling back anti-discrimination protections, this agenda threatens to erase decades of civil rights progress. DEI programs have been critical in creating pathways to upward mobility for Black communities by expanding access to jobs, leadership opportunities, and fair wages. Rolling them back will deepen racial disparities in housing, employment, and education, further widening the racial wealth gap and cutting off opportunities for economic advancement. Without these protections and investments, Black families will face even greater barriers to building generational wealth and economic security.

Jamarr Brown, Executive Director of Color Of Change PAC brings critical insight into the DEI debate—exposing how we got here, how we fight back, and how investment will help build both rapid response and long term infrastructure for the fight. He will be joined by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, who was endorsed by the PAC in 2024. While the next opportunity to shift the balance of power in Congress won’t come until 2026, action is already underway. Jamarr and George will discuss the role of state and local elections in this fight, how Color Of Change PAC is mobilizing voters to elect leaders who will hold members of Congress accountable in their districts, and how local elected officials like District Attorney races can mitigate harm happening at the federal level.