Within his first few days in office, President Donald Trump made the decision to cut Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) programs in businesses and schools, acknowledging the importance of DEI has become more important than ever.

Many businesses had no choice but to comply with Trump’s mission to move on from DEI programs, since they were facing boycotting and backlash from conservative customers. In the nature of business, they would not want to lose their customers, but it is a slippery slope as they lost consumers who sided with the supporters of DEI programs. Other companies made it clear that they stood with Trump’s decision to remove DEI policies, and because of this, they essentially lost liberal customers outright.

Despite facing repeated retaliation, businesses like Costco and Microsoft still back DEI ideologies, which is appreciated by many.

“I feel very happy and proud of the businesses that support DEI,” a high school student said. “Their support reflects their perspective on their customers and their care for them. I believe that those who do not support DEI lack emotional connection with their customers and only focus on making money”

DEI programs have also been eliminated from schools, which affects not just members of the LGBTQ+ community and different ethnicities but also students with disorders like autism. DEI is important because communities that often go unnoticed or are underrepresented get a chance to shine and have the same opportunities as the majority of people. For those with disabilities, it gives them a chance to speak and be heard when they otherwise would go without any acknowledgement.

DEI in schools is just as important as it is in companies. Everyone should have equal learning opportunities and feel like their opinions and values matter, even when those opinions are very different from others. Students with learning disabilities can struggle to be heard and understood, which is why DEI programs are so valuable in school districts. The programs give people with autism and other disabilities a chance to have the same learning opportunities as someone with no disorders.

DEI programs in schools also enable students of different ethnicities or students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community to feel safe and seen in their schooling environment.

Now more than ever, DEI programs are needed in the world. With Trump shutting them down, life for many will become more difficult. This elimination of something that stands for inclusivity seems to accomplish nothing but serving as fuel for the hate fire. Spreading inclusivity and acknowledging that differences matter is vital to the survival of the human race.

In this day and age especially, people are divided. Anyone who is slightly different from the majority is cast out from society and looked down upon. Businesses even go so far as to refuse service to anyone who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community or is a member of a diverse community, which is not fair to anyone. People are people, and no matter their differences, they should be respected just like everyone else.