Oconee County council advances ordinance to ban use of county funds for DEI initiatives amid hours of public comment

The Oconee County Council on Feb. 18 moved Ordinance 2025-05 to second reading — an ordinance described in the meeting as "an ordinance to prohibit the use of county funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and to ensure fairness and equality under the law." The motion was seconded and the chair called for the vote; the transcript records the motion, second and a verbal call for those in favor but does not record a numeric tally.

The measure drew extended public comment before the council vote, with residents, advocacy groups and a local NAACP representative urging differing outcomes. The League of Women Voters of Oconee and Pickens County opposed the ordinance and said the council’s proposed definition of DEI "defines diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as any program, training, policy, or activity that promotes differential treatment, preferences, or quotas based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender ..." Patricia Spurlock of the…