De Anza's ex-DEI Dean: My social justice talk was “hijacked” by “illiberal” academics

Since De Anza College ousted Dr. Tabia Lee as DEI Dean in 2023 for questioning radical orthodoxy, she has advocated for a more thoughtful Critical Social Justice framework. Recently on X, Dr. Lee reflects on her American Humanist Association convention presentation earlier this month, which, she says, was interrupted, muted, and “hijacked” by new AHA CEO Fish Stark—simply for sharing an unpopular viewpoint.

My deepest apologies to those who were in attendance at my presentation today on "America at the Crossroads: Social Justice Approaches to Teaching and Learning" at the American Humanist Association's 83rd Convention.

The Q&A session that I had agreed to facilitate was hijacked by the AHA's new CEO Mr. Fish Stark who began muting me, refusing to let me address questions posed to me from the audience as I had agreed to, and engaged in a tirade/rebuttal in response to points I raised that he felt were objectionable.

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Mr. Stark's inappropriate actions managed to demonstrate the illiberal rejection of viewpoint diversity and to highlight the ways that Critical Social Justice Ideologues like himself attempt to and do silence others they don't agree with. As a Lifetime Member of the American Humanist Association, I am embarrassed by Mr. Stark and the organization will falter under his illiberal leadership. It was wrong for Mr. Stark to disrespect me as a speaker and those who had posed questions to me and were hoping to hear answers from me, not him.

I will keep speaking and people will keep turning away from the toxic ideologies that you promote and that you are attempting to make the vision of an organization that used to welcome viewpoint diversity and free thinking. Mr. Stark, it's sad to see you and others like you drive AHA into the dumps; you and your likeminded comrades do not have my support.

Read the whole thing here.

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Related:

• Foothills-De Anza CC analysis: The local Left demands complete conformity

• De Anza College's ousted DEI director: Fix DEI by reprioritizing equal opportunity

• Ousted Bay Area college dept head: DEI “deliberately stokes” antisemitic hate

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