NAACP Condemns Ohio's Senate Bill 1 for Harming College Students of Color

Chairperson Meryl Johnson warns the law will turn back the clock on diversity and inclusion efforts

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The NAACP Cleveland Branch is speaking out against Ohio's Senate Bill 1, which bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public colleges and universities in the state. The law is described as an "unconscionable effort to erase our past and eliminate our future" that will negatively impact Black and brown students. Johnson, the chairperson of the NAACP Cleveland Branch Education Committee, says the law sends a "clear message" that the struggles of minority communities "aren't a priority." The NAACP vows to educate and organize the community to fight against the law.

Why it matters

Senate Bill 1 is seen as a major setback in the fight for racial equity and inclusion in higher education. The NAACP argues the law will undo decades of progress and deprive students of color of critical support services and spaces on campus. This raises concerns about the ability of Ohio's public colleges and universities to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.

The details

Senate Bill 1, passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2025, bans campus diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at all public colleges and universities in the state. The law is described as treating "the struggles of Black and brown people in this country and in this state as inconvenient information that may have the effect of causing some people who are not of color to feel uncomfortable or uneasy." A local college student told the NAACP that the law has been "heartbreaking" and "infuriating," leading to the disappearance of critical support services and spaces like the Women's Center, LGBTQ+ Student Services, and the Office of Multicultural Engagement.

  • Senate Bill 1 was passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in March 2025.

The players

Meryl Johnson

Chairperson of the NAACP Cleveland Branch Education Committee.

Mike DeWine

The Governor of Ohio who signed Senate Bill 1 into law in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“SB 1 has felt like a gut punch. Watching the Women's Center, LGBTQ+ Student Services, and the Office of Multicultural Engagement disappear hasn't just been heartbreaking -- it's been infuriating. These were places where organizing, healing, and solidarity actually happened. The loss of those spaces sends a clear message: that our communities and our struggles aren't a priority.”

— Local college student (NAACP Cleveland Branch)

“I have watched students cry as they learned their affinity spaces on campus have been dissolved.... It is frustrating, as a faculty member, to feel like I have no recourse at my institution, or in my state, to address the wrongs committed against them.”

— Cleveland professor (NAACP Cleveland Branch)

What’s next

The NAACP Cleveland Branch plans to "educate and organize our community, and other communities that are like-minded, to present a unified front" against Senate Bill 1. They aim to "ensure that the truth is available to all, regardless of how it makes them feel."

The takeaway

Senate Bill 1 represents a major setback in the fight for racial equity and inclusion in higher education in Ohio. The NAACP warns the law will turn back the clock on decades of progress, depriving students of color of critical support services and spaces on campus. This raises serious concerns about the ability of Ohio's public colleges and universities to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.