House Bill 4 threatened DEI programs in Kentucky’s higher education system.

The Louisville Urban League crafted a letter to Governor Andy Beshear to express grave concerns about several bills recently passed by the Kentucky General Assembly. Concerning HB4, President Lyndon Pryor stated:

HB4 challenges inclusivity and diversity in Kentucky’s public colleges and universities. It prevents these institutions from self-correction, as it doesn’t allow them to adjust systems based on the needs of underrepresented groups. By limiting investigations into bias incidents, HB4 refuses to support a student population that grows more diverse each year. Kentucky’s public universities have made progress toward equity for all its students in the past four years; this bill attempts to thwart and undo that progress.

We are pleased that Governor Beshear vetoed HB4, calling it a bill that “moves [Kentucky] backward and makes people feel less welcoming and less deserving.”

The Commonwealth should be a welcoming place to everyone. We should make changes to correct the historical damage that oppressed minority populations and move forward to an equitable space for all.

About the Louisville Urban League
The Louisville Urban League assists African Americans and those at the margins in attaining social and economic equality and stability through direct services and advocacy. For more information, go to lul.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter  (@louisvilleUL), or Instagram (@LouUrbanLeague).

March 20, 2025

For more information, contact:
Cherilyn Martin
Marketing Manager
[email protected]

From the Desk of
Lyndon E. Pryor
President & CEO