Professor Wins Partial Block on Discipline for Anti-DEI Speech

Kern Community College District barred from enforcing some state diversity rules against longtime history professor

Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:20pm

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A California community college has been partially blocked from enforcing certain state diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) rules against a history professor who sued to protect his right to speak out against such policies. The professor, Daymon Johnson, secured a preliminary injunction preventing the college from taking action if he criticizes the regulations, though the school can still require him to undergo mandatory diversity training.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate over free speech rights and the enforcement of DEI policies on college campuses, with some arguing such rules infringe on the ability of faculty to voice dissenting opinions.

The details

Daymon Johnson, a 30-year veteran history professor at Bakersfield College in the Kern Community College District, filed a lawsuit challenging the school's enforcement of state DEI regulations. The court granted Johnson a preliminary injunction, blocking the college from taking disciplinary action against him for speaking out against the policies, though the school can still require him to complete diversity training before serving on a faculty screening committee.

  • The lawsuit was filed in February 2026.

The players

Daymon Johnson

A history professor at Bakersfield College in the Kern Community College District who has worked at the school for over 30 years.

Kern Community College District

The California community college district that includes Bakersfield College, where Daymon Johnson is a professor.

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What they’re saying

“We must protect the free speech rights of all faculty, even when their views challenge the status quo.”

— Daymon Johnson, History Professor

What’s next

The court will hold a full hearing to determine whether to issue a permanent injunction against the college district's enforcement of the DEI rules against Professor Johnson.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between diversity initiatives and free speech protections on college campuses, with courts having to balance these competing interests on a case-by-case basis.