By Dianne Anderson

When it comes to helping Black and Brown students in the education system, political and economic PTSD rules the day.

Ever since the Trump Administration’s chilling effect of threats of funding cuts, just the mere thought of helping Black students has a lot of people on edge, even those who would typically be ready to buck the system.

Lawsuits are swirling, and some agencies don’t have the energy, or the money, to fight.

San Bernardino City Unified School Board Member Danny Tillman said a lot of people have been silenced, but if districts have to litigate in court, it takes more resources than they can afford to spend.

“Districts commenting on Trump policies put the district in a bad position, it’s that simple,” said Tillman.

He said never before has an Administration been so petty as to bring down the force of the federal government to get their voter base excited.

“The Administration has no concern about the negative consequences on how it actually affects children in those districts. It’s a sad and scary time we live in, that’s the reality of it,” he said.

Maria Garcia, spokesperson for SBCUSD, said that the district or Superintendent Mauricio Arellano had no comment.

Locally, parent advocates at Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement are not giving up on the rights of Black students, and are continuing to pursue all avenues to help the community succeed in education.

Rev. Samuel Casey, a long-time community and education advocate, said that leadership must stay centered in the fight for justice, and ensure Black students are not sacrificed in the budget battles.

“As federal threats to education funding loom, school districts like San Bernardino City, Rialto, Fontana, and Redlands must double down on their commitment to protect all students—especially Black students who have always been systematically and historically under siege. Now is the time for courageous leadership and unapologetic equity,” said Pastor Casey, Executive Director of Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE).

There was a lot of nail-biting last week over Chicago Public Schools, targeted by the Trump Administration for launching its Black Student Success Plan to continue programs to reduce suspensions. They also offer culturally responsive classes, and outreach to hire more Black teachers to help reverse historic systemic discrimination.

In an equal and opposite move, whatever remains of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights launched its own investigation into that district for reverse racism against non-Black students.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson

The Trump Administration is targeting equity and DEI programs in schools, but California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with other state attorneys general, is pushing back. Their lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education charges the department is illegally pressuring states to abandon DEI programs in K–12 schools.

Bonta also filed lawsuits over unlawful conditions on K-12 funding and the termination of teacher preparation pipeline grants. Last month, the DOE started mass firings of nearly half of its employees, prompting Bonta to seek a court order to stop the firings and prevent the transfer of essential functions away from the Department.

He also criticized DOE’s warning that states risk losing federal education funding if they don’t adopt a new interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which he calls vague and legally incoherent.

Among the many lawsuits Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading with a coalition of 19 attorneys general is the challenge to the Trump Administration’s unlawful conditions on K-12 school funding, jeopardizing California’s $7.9 billion in congressionally mandated support for critical education services.

“Let me be clear: the federal Department of Education is not trying to ‘combat’ discrimination with this latest order. Instead, it is using our nation’s foundational civil rights law as a pretext to coerce states into abandoning efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through lawful programs and policies. Once again, the President has exceeded his authority under the Constitution and violated the law,” said AG Bonta in a statement.

In Long Beach at a February 8 rally, Mayor Rex Richardson also talked about the times reminiscent of Jim Crow, and commended the Teachers Association of Long Beach for not backing down and their commitment to protect the Department of Education from being dismantled.

He spoke about how his grandmother grew up in the Jim Crow South, and stood up to George Wallace, who said Black students couldn’t attend the University of Alabama.

That was then versus now.

“You know exactly what moves they’re going to make because we’ve seen it before and we’ve all been here before,” Richardson said. “What they want is an uninformed electorate. This is an attack on democracy. If you can’t read, you can’t vote. You can’t think critically, you can’t speak up for the life you want and your family.”

Elvia Cano, spokesperson for the Long Beach Unified School District, said the district is actively monitoring the conversation around potential federal education cuts.

Their main focus remains on delivering strong academic programs and meaningful student supports that reflect the district’s core values.

“Programs such as Title I, special education services, and college and career readiness initiatives are essential to student success,” she said. “Likewise, equity-centered efforts like the Center of Black Student Excellence, the Black Student Achievement Initiative, the Sankofa Saturday Program, and the Young Black Scholars Program reflect our ongoing commitment to opportunity, belonging, and academic excellence for all.”

Those programs are deeply aligned with Vision 2035 and their Strategic Plan, Creating a Better Future Together, she said.

“We remain confident in our ability to navigate challenges while continuing to serve students and families effectively. Regardless of proposed shifts at the federal level, our dedication to inclusive, student-centered education remains steadfast,” she said.

California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond criticized the Trump Administration’s plans to cut federal education funding and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, emphasizing how recent actions have harmed students, families, and educators. Contracts with support agencies have ended and the Office for Civil Rights in California has closed.

Thurmond has filed a lawsuit against the threat of withholding federal funding over school curriculums.
“We will not stand idly by while the Trump Administration continues to sow chaos, uncertainty, and interruptions of normal communication surrounding federal education programs. We will combat these attempts to undermine educational equity and opportunity and stay focused on our most important goal: improving educational results for our students,” Thurmond said.

To see all AG Bonta’s lawsuits against the Trump Administration:
https://oag.ca.gov/federal-accountability