JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Army Corps of Engineers recently canceled a Black History Month event in Jacksonville, citing updates in guidance regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
This decision was revealed through emails obtained by News4JAX through a public records request. The event was set to feature Jacksonville City Council member Rahman Johnson, who is Black, as the speaker.
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In an interview with News4JAX on Friday, Johnson expressed his disbelief and disappointment upon learning about the cancellation.
He described the Army Corps of Engineers as a “prestigious” organization and was surprised by the decision.
“I was honored they wanted me to come and not only do a presentation for their Corps for Black History Month but as an academic, answer some questions,” Johnson said.
The cancellation was communicated to Johnson in an email from the Corps, which stated: “After several meetings, revisions and guidance updates today regarding DEI, we were informed that our Black History Month event must be canceled.”
“I was floored,” Johnson said. “It was almost as if the declination or recension of that invitation was a swipe against all of the opportunities of normalcy that we have made not just as African Americans but as Americans.”
He initially thought the cancellation was a mistake, especially since he had already begun preparing for his presentation on “African Americans and Labor.”
The Army Corps of Engineers explained the cancellation in a statement.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District was directed by the DOD and USACE Headquarters to postpone all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related observance events and trainings until further guidance is received, in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) issued January 20, 2025, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”
The Army Corps of Engineers
This directive aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order issued on Jan. 20, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”
Johnson expressed concern that more events like the one he was to speak at might be canceled due to the executive order.
“Diversity is not a bad word,” he said. “Equity simply means giving people the opportunity to compete, regardless of how they look or how they were born or any choices in their lives that they have. That’s all it’s about.”
Despite the disappointment, Johnson hopes for a future where people focus less on terminology and more on learning from each other.
He acknowledged the decision was not personal and recognized it as part of a broader issue.