The directive promoted by Donald Trump to stop financing policies that promote diversity has arrived in Barcelona. Specifically, to a municipal library, the Ignasi Iglesias-Can Fabra, which performs a children’s learning program with the general consulate of the North American country in the Catalan capital.
The Barcelona City Council has received in recent days a requirement of the American embassy in Madrid that requires it to apply this directive in the American Space program carried out by that library, As the country has advanced and has confirmed this newspaper of municipal sources. It is the case that this project received so far funds from the United States government.
The Barcelona City Council has already responded that it will not comply with the order. Municipal sources argue that the “principles and values” of the institution go through the “inclusion”, the “promotion of gender equality” and “plurality.” In addition, they ensure that if necessary to maintain the program they will seek collaboration agreements with other American cities, institutions and public organizations that respect and promote inclusion, diversity and equity.
The American Space project, which since 2016 has carried out more than 2,000 activities and received 77,000 attendees, is a collaboration of the General Consulate of the United States in Barcelona and Librarians of Barcelona. It includes science and technology activities, English learning, cultural programs and also an orientation service for young people who want to go to study in the United States. In addition, it houses 2,500 documents of which a good part are donated by the State Department of the country.
The requirement received by the Consistory explicitly refers to order 14173, which is called Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity. It is the one promoted by Trump to stop financing with public funds any program of diversity, equity and inclusion.
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