Gov. Abbott’s memorandum on diversity in hiring sparks call for a sports boycott in Texas.

Austin, Texas – Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to a group of small businesses on Tuesday and promised to back the new tax cut.

In his pledge to break down more regulatory barriers, he noted a record number of people being hired.

“Texas also ranks first in the United States for the number of jobs created by black business owners, Hispanic women. Business owners, veteran business owners women. The Texas economy really works for everyone in this state,” Gov. Abbott said. .

While Abbott was being cheered for his pro-business stance, another group, led by Texas Black Legislative Assembly chairman Ron Reynolds, ridiculed him.

“And I know it’s Valentine’s Day today, and I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day except Governor Abbott,” the Missouri City Democrat said.

Reynolds and others at a press conference on Tuesday demanded that the governor cancel the controversial memorandum. It was a warning from his chief of staff to government agencies and universities that diversity, equality and inclusion policies could not be used in hiring.

Reynolds pointed out that this action was nothing more than a racist political stunt.

“We will not be silent, we will not be complicit in his attempts to use the minorities that make up half of this state as pawns for his political advantage,” Reynolds said.

The DEI memo from the governor’s office is believed to have been in response to criticism from a conservative group over Texas Tech’s policies. After the memorandum was released, Tech reportedly began reviewing the university’s hiring practices.

Governor Abbott’s spokeswoman Renée Eze sent the following statement to FOX 7:

“The letter from the Governor’s Chief of Staff is a reminder that state agencies and public universities must follow federal and state laws in their recruitment practices, including the Civil Rights Act, which protects diversity and inclusion. Both federal and state law make stock quotas illegal. The problem is not diversity – the problem is that fairness is not equality, and DEI’s hiring practices combine the two. In Texas, we give people the chance to advance based on talent and merit. Longing for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” According to the dream, we should not be judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character.

If the governor’s administration does not back down, the group wants to boycott major sporting events. Gary Bledsoe of the Texas NAACP wants the boycott to be adopted by the NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA and business groups.

“We also encourage companies to tell the truth about DEI policies and their impact on the public so that the public gets the facts and not inaccurate information,” Bledsoe said.

At Tuesday’s business meeting, Gov. Abbott did not speak of the proposed boycott, but conservatives like Jonathan Saenz rejected it.

“These are empty threats. They don’t mean anything,” Saenz said.

Saenz leads Texas Values ​​and points out that civil rights laws haven’t changed because of the memorandum. He believes the memo is an attempt by Abbott to hold the agencies accountable and agrees with the statement from the governor’s office.

“Fairness is not the same as equality. In many cases, this new type of politics is part of a political movement of some people, mostly on the left, who are trying to give people the opportunity to gain an advantage. And these benefits are not based on experience. They are not based on merit or qualifications. And that’s just not how we do things in America. At the end of the day, it doesn’t benefit anyone, and it will hurt some people,” Saenz said.

The battle under the dome of the Capitol is almost guaranteed. On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made repeal of the DEI policy on higher education one of his top priorities in the session.