Bellevue College: Administrator Issues Moratorium on List of "Racist Statements"

On June 2, 2020, Bellevue College Interim Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Gilbert Villalpando sent an email that directed members of the Bellevue community “not to repeat or ask questions about” certain statements he determined were racist. FIRE wrote to Bellevue on July 10, pointing out that such a blanket moratorium on specific expression would chill student and faculty expression. On July 28, Bellevue clarified that the email was not meant as a directive, and that students and faculty would not be disciplined for repeating or asking questions about the statements included in the email.