FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS STATEMENT
CONTACT: apr@fenton.com
September 26, 2025 –– Dr. Andrea Abrams, executive director of the Defending American Values Coalition, a member of the American Pride Rises Network, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision to withhold $37.5 million in federal funding from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to DEI initiatives:
“Atlanta’s airport, the busiest in the world, made a courageous and principled choice to stand firm in defense of the fundamental American values of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), even when threatened with the loss of tens of millions in federal funding.
By refusing to sign the Trump administration’s anti-DEI grant language, Hartsfield-Jackson acknowledged its role as an historic example of expanding opportunity; and it sent a clear message that our nation’s institutions must refuse to be a part of the Trump administration’s system of authoritarian compliance, and stand up for the values that benefit our nation’s economy.
The administration’s attempt to strong-arm businesses, airports, and schools into abandoning DEI is deeply dangerous for our nation’s democracy. Mayor Maynard Jackson pioneered leveraging public-private partnerships at the airport to advance the American dream. By weaponizing DEI to scapegoat and distract, the Trump administration seeks to dismantle key pathways to opportunity for millions of Americans.
Atlanta’s decision, supported by Mayor Andre Dickens, shows the importance of institutions refusing to comply with cynical politicians that want to bully them into submission. It is Atlanta’s legacy and an example for other national leaders to exemplify. Across sectors, leaders hold the moral and economic power to stand firm on the values of DEI that make our nation stronger.
As we’ve seen with the thousands of Americans pushing back against the efforts to silence the voices of those who hold the Trump administration accountable and the shrinking list of companies that have abandoned DEI—we have the power to organize, mobilize, and build a nation where equity is not optional, but essential.
About American Pride Rises:
American Pride Rises (APR) is an initiative committed to protecting pathways to the American Dream by fighting for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive America for all.