Attack what binds us together, and you'll find out why it holds.
Our union took the fight to the federal government – and we won. On Wednesday, the Trump administration withdrew their appeal in the lawsuit we filed against the Department of Education's "Dear Colleague Letter," which attempted to seize educators’ freedom of speech, rewrite what can be taught, and control what students can learn. You can read more about the win in The New York Times.
Let me be clear about what was at stake. They wanted to rewrite 60 years of civil rights law with the stroke of a pen. The administration demanded every school district in the country certify they had no diversity or inclusion programs – or lose billions in federal funding critical to keeping our schools running. It was an attack on our educators’ ability to teach honest history, support vulnerable students, and create safe classrooms where every child belongs.
The federal court saw through it – ruling it unconstitutional, unlawful, and a direct threat to free speech in the classroom.
This victory belongs to our communities, educators, and students in Maryland and across the nation. From K-12 schools in our most vulnerable communities to higher education institutions, students will now be able to continue to access programs that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and inclusion – without fear of interference or restriction.
Our students can still access the programs that inspire them. Our educators can still teach accurate history. And our schools can still foster inclusion without fear of federal retaliation. The work our union members do every day to serve their students and communities – that continues, protected.
I'm proud of what we accomplished together. When educators stand united and refuse to back down, we prove that no attack on justice, equity, or opportunity can succeed.
Thank you for standing with us in this fight. And know that for all of our members across the state, we will continue to fight back in the courts and by all means necessary against any unlawful attacks or government overreach on our workplaces, our communities, and the people we serve.
In solidarity,
Kenya Campbell
AFT Maryland President
2026-01-23