The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Civic Engagement Club is organizing a statewide protest to challenge what students describe as unjust education policies in Tennessee, including recent laws restricting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
The protest is scheduled for January 17, from 2 to 4 pm, at Centennial Park in Nashville. Students from colleges and universities across the state are expected to gather in solidarity to voice concerns about the direction of education policy in Tennessee. Organizers say the action is a direct response to anti-DEI legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in May 2025.
On October 16, 2025, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga eliminated all DEI-related programs following the passage of the Dismantling DEI Departments Act (HB 0923/SB 1084) and the Dismantling DEI in Employment Act (HB 0622/SB 1083). Students say the loss of these programs resulted in the removal of spaces that supported dialogue, inclusion, and student well-being…