Leaked Video Shows NAACP Giving 'Justice' Awards to School Board Members Opposing Trump's Anti-DEI Policies

A prominent NAACP official in Cleveland has come under scrutiny after being seen in recently obtained video footage describing the organization's plan to honor Ohio school board members who refuse to comply with federal directives banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Meryl Johnson, chair of the NAACP Cleveland education committee, spoke during a virtual Teach Truth Day of Action briefing earlier this month, stating her belief that school boards should "put students first" by rejecting what she described as an "immoral suggestion" from the Trump administration regarding DEI.

“These school board members in Ohio have defied that, what I call, an immoral suggestion from the president, to sign anti-DEI, anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion directives,” Johnson said during the event. She went on to announce the introduction of "Guardian of Justice Awards," to be presented at the upcoming Teach Truth Day of Action. “We’re going to be giving what we call Guardian of Justice Awards to school board members who stood up and said no, we’re not signing that. Who believe their students are the most important thing and that they are going to look out for their students because that’s their job.”

The discussion comes as several Ohio school districts, along with others nationwide, have complied with federal orders by signing statements confirming they are not engaging in "illegal DEI practices." This compliance is seen by many as a move to safeguard federal funding threatened by President Donald Trump’s executive order, which prohibits DEI programs in K-12 schools. However, according to Johnson, some districts—including Cincinnati, Shaker Heights, and Cleveland Heights-University Heights—have chosen not to sign these pledges, and those districts are set to be honored at the June 7 Teach Truth Day of Action. Johnson noted that additional awards would be mailed to school board members in other districts as their participation becomes known.

"We want to encourage people, don’t be intimidated, don’t be afraid, okay? We have a democracy to protect and it's our job to do that," Johnson added, emphasizing the NAACP's message to school officials facing pressure over the contentious DEI debate.

The planned recognition of non-compliant school board members has sparked criticism from some education advocates and legal experts. Mehek Cooke, a mother and attorney in Ohio, expressed outrage over the video, asserting, "This is not just reckless—it’s a direct attack on our children’s future." Cooke warned that defiance of federal DEI bans could put critical funding streams—such as Title I and IDEA—at risk, with potentially devastating consequences for disadvantaged students and children with disabilities. “That money isn’t political, it’s essential. It keeps the lights on in struggling schools, pays for reading intervention, and supports the very students DEI ideologues claim to protect,” she argued.

The controversy follows the Trump administration’s January executive order, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” which not only bans the teaching of materials labeled as anti-American or promoting critical race theory and "gender ideology," but also directs law enforcement to investigate and prosecute educators accused of violating the directive.

The clash over DEI policies in Ohio highlights the intensifying national conversation regarding how issues of race, gender, and identity should be handled in public schools. Critics of the bans describe the federal mandate as an infringement on local control and educational freedom, while supporters maintain it is necessary to prevent what they see as divisive and politically motivated curricula. As the June 7 event approaches, NAACP leaders remain steadfast in their decision to spotlight and support those school board members willing to challenge the federal government’s stance on DEI—even as opponents warn of potential legal and financial repercussions.