South Asheville News

According to a report by ABC 13 News, the creation of a DEI Committee by the Hendersonville City Council has become a point of contention among several local residents.

The city council voted to form the committee several years ago and has since hired a consulting firm, known as Ahkirah Legal and Diversity Consulting, to assist in that process. Ahkirah is led by Bahiyyah Greer, founder and principal consultant of Ahkirah Legal and Diversity Consultants.

Residents opposed to the effort, saying that it is "really meant to divide us" and is "a solution looking for a problem." One resident shared her concern that the $147,000 spent on DEI efforts was a poor use of public funds when there are people who are "falling through the cracks."

According to BlueRidgeNow Times-News, as one of the first people to speak in opposition to the DEI effort, Jeff Groh of Fletcher, urged the city to cancel the contract with Ahkirah and focus on "real problems in Hendersonville and not imagined problems. It is not wanted and not needed."

Groh also shared his concerns about Greer's background, including her familial connections to the Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam, which Greer promotes on her websites.

DEI has roots in cultural Marxism, according to Groh.

"It is part of a broader strategy to pit one group of people against another group," he told South Asheville News. "It is identity politics. It strives to divide us, not unite us. It is focused on equality of results, not equality of opportunity."

The latter concept "is a key tenant of classical liberalism, which our country was founded on," Groh said.

DEI "strives to create a victim mentality," Groh continued. "There is growing resistance to DEI around the country as people realize that the stated goal of DEI is a lie, including what has happened recently at UNC. I am concerned with the consultant they hired. Ms. Greer from Ahkirah states she is 'a proud daughter of a Black Panther mother and a Nation of Islam father.' And we expect her to lecture us on tolerance?"

Resident Corrine Mandell is also concerned about the council's decision to hired Ahkirah Legal and Diversity Consultants. 

"Their ball of wax addresses diversity, equity and inclusion, commonly known as DEI, which stems from Marxist ideology," Mandell told South Asheville News. "A deep dive will reveal that this formula will divide us rather than unite us. Every resident of Henderson County should care about this effort, and they can make their voices heard by attending each and every city council meeting and each and every DEI Advisory Committee meeting. Make a public comment, bring your neighbor, send emails, fly flags!"