FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 6, 2023
Bill Aimed at Protecting Children from Critical Race Theory
Instruction Heads to Governor's Desk
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— In an effort to safeguard Arizona students in K-12 public schools from instruction that promotes racism, Senate Republicans unanimously voted in support of SB 1305 (race; ethnicity; prohibited instruction), sponsored by Senator J.D. Mesnard. This bill was just submitted to the Governor this afternoon and now awaits her signature.
SB 1305 would ensure schools are not teaching "critical race theory" (CRT) to our children. CRT is a radical, leftist world view that evaluates people solely on the color of their skin and essentially defines everyone as either "privileged" or "marginalized" based on race or ethnicity. CRT is discrimination in the most basic sense and ultimately teaches that America as a whole is a racist country. This harmful propaganda is turning Americans against each other and instilling divisiveness among our youth. Senate Republicans support swift action against these highly inappropriate lesson plans.
"Teaching about historical movements, ideologies or instances of racial hatred and discrimination, including slavery and Jim Crow, are absolutely legitimate and sensible topics of study in the classroom," said Senator Mesnard. "However, pushing a destructive and racist ideology has no place in our schools. More and more parents are expressing concern over this issue, and we must ensure we nip this in the bud now before the damage is done on our impressionable youth. My colleagues and I in the Senate are calling on Governor Hobbs to sign this commonsense legislation."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov