ACLU files suit against Oklahoma over law limiting critical race theory instruction

An American Civil Liberties Union-backed lawsuit filed against Oklahoma Tuesday is seeking to put a stop to a law that limits teaching critical race theory in the state.

HB 1775, which was signed into law by Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, makes it the policy of the Oklahoma State Board of Education to "prohibit discrimination on the basis of race or sex," making it illegal for teachers, administrators or other public school employees to teach that an "individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive." The law also prohibits teaching that any race or sex is "inherently superior."

But the ACLU-backed lawsuit claims that the law is actually "aimed at censoring discussions around race and gender in the classroom" while violating "students’ and educators’ First Amendment right to learn and talk about these issues."