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Oconee County council adopts ordinance prohibiting county funding for DEI programs after heated public hearing
Summary
On March 4, 2025, Oconee County Council approved Ordinance 20 25-05, barring use of county funds for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The public hearing drew extended comment from residents on both sides of DEI and related immigration enforcement concerns.
Oconee County Council on March 4, 2025 adopted Ordinance 20 25-05, prohibiting the use of county funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The ordinance passed on third and final reading after a public hearing that drew more than a dozen speakers representing views for and against the measure.
Supporters of the ordinance argued DEI policies promote division and can undermine merit-based hiring. Valerie McCarthy told the council, “It’s about control. It’s about deciding who gets ahead and who gets left behind based on identity rather than individual merit.” Similar concerns were voiced by several speakers who said DEI was unnecessary or had become…
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