Leaked Video Shows NAACP Honoring School Board Members Defying Trump's Anti-DEI Policies with 'Justice' Awards

A high-ranking official with the NAACP in Cleveland has been seen on newly released video discussing plans to honor Ohio school board members who are openly rejecting the Trump administration’s directives to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools. The comments were made by Meryl Johnson, the chair of the NAACP Cleveland education committee, during a recent Teach Truth Day of Action virtual event.

Johnson highlighted that several Ohio school board members have prioritized students over federal guidance, refusing to sign anti-DEI pledges as directed by the current administration. “Some school board members in Ohio have defied what I call an immoral suggestion from the president, to sign anti-DEI, anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion directives,” Johnson said during the briefing. She emphasized, “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.”

The NAACP will formally recognize these individuals at its Teach Truth Day of Action on June 7, which is being hosted in collaboration with the Zinn Education Project. As part of the event, awards and certificates will be presented to representatives from several districts including Cincinnati, Shaker Heights, and Cleveland Heights-University Heights. Johnson indicated that additional awards would be distributed to other districts as more school board members come forward, either in person or by mail.

This local resistance comes as the Trump administration continues to enforce executive orders requiring educational institutions across the country to remove DEI-related materials and practices or risk losing critical federal funding. The Department of Education has notified all 50 states that non-compliant districts could forfeit their eligibility for essential funds such as Title I for disadvantaged students and IDEA for children with disabilities.

In January, President Trump signed the "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling" order, which prohibits curricula considered anti-American, as well as teachings related to gender ideology and critical race theory. The executive order further mandates potential criminal penalties for educators found to be facilitating the social transition of minors.

Reactions to the NAACP’s initiative have been swift and polarized. Mehek Cooke, an Ohio attorney and mother, expressed strong opposition after viewing the video. “This is not just reckless—it’s a direct attack on our children’s future,” she said, warning that defiance of federal law jeopardizes crucial funding streams that support vulnerable students. Cooke argued that the loss of this funding would undermine the very students DEI proponents seek to help, calling the NAACP’s campaign “sheer negligence.”

As the debate intensifies statewide, supporters contend that standing up for DEI and resisting what they see as regressive policies is necessary to protect educational equity. Opponents charge that playing politics with education funding risks tangible harm to schools and students. With the awards ceremony planned for early June, the issue of local autonomy versus federal mandates in public education is set to remain at the forefront of Ohio’s education discourse.