The wireless provider does business with the same group funding racist and homophobic book bans!

 

Dear, John:

T-Mobile is doing business with Patriot Mobile, a far-right wireless cellphone provider that has helped to elect school board candidates in Texas who want to keep Black history out of the classroom!1 

Now, right-wing conservatives have complete control over four school districts in North Texas and they already have started to abuse their powers. One of the school districts implemented a policy that would restrict classroom discussions on race and gender and also limit the right of transgender or nonbinary students to use their preferred bathrooms and pronouns.2 Another school district removed 41 previously challenged books from campus library shelves, including “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, which tells the story of a young Black girl who navigates anti-Blackness and socially constructed beauty standards.3 To date, all but one of the school districts have enacted policies that marginalize Black, POC and LGBTQ+ authors, history and students. 

By supporting Patriot Mobile, T-Mobile is complicit in these attacks on our children and our histories. And it’s time we held them accountable.

TELL T-MOBILE TO DROP PATRIOT MOBILE FROM ITS WIRELESS NETWORK 

In the past year alone, Texas has banned 801 books across 22 school districts— more than any other state in the country.4 Nationwide, 1,648 book titles have been banned from schools; 40% of them contain protagonists or prominent secondary characters of color.5 These numbers soon could skyrocket because Patriot Mobile Action PAC recently announced plans to “expand their efforts to other counties, other states, and be in every state across the nation.”6


John, we simply cannot allow this to happen. Banning books about Black history and lessons involving race robs Black children of the dignity that comes with learning Black history and U.S. history. And codifying the practice of misgendering makes trans and nonbinary children feel invalidated, unseen and unheard. Schools should be a safe haven for all children. But these Patriot Mobile Action-backed candidates and policies marginalize students and their humanity.

TELL T-MOBILE TO DROP PATRIOT MOBILE FROM ITS WIRELESS NETWORK

Now, T-Mobile traditionally has supported the education of Black, POC and LGBTQ+ students, from donating to scholarship programs that benefit HBCU students to supporting literacy programs for LGBTQ+ youth.7 That’s why it’s so alarming that T-Mobile would share its cellular network with a company that wants to fight against anti-racism initiatives and opposes LGBTQ+ -inclusive curricula in schools. 


Without the support of T-Mobile, Patriot Mobile PAC could not exist, let alone continue with its takeover of school boards across the country. John, it’s now or never. Will you join us in demanding that T-Mobile  #DropPatriotMobile?

SIGN THE PETITION

Until justice is real,

— Jade Magnus Ogunnaike and the Color Of Change Team

References:

  1. Shelly Hagan, Scott Moritz and Todd Shields, “T-Mobile faces backlash on ties to conservative carrier in Texas,” Bloomberg, October 14, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377045?t=11&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L.; Mike Hixenbaugh, “After a Texas school shooting, conservatives blamed ‘woke’ programs once approved by Republicans,” NBC News, July 18, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377046?t=13&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L. 
  2. Brian Lopez, “A North Texas school district now lets teachers reject children’s pronouns—even if parents approve of them,” The Texas Tribune, August 22, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377047?t=15&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L. 
  3. Brian Lopez, “Keller school officials order 41 books—including the Bible and an Anne Frank adaptation—off of library shelves,” The Texas Tribune, August 16, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377048?t=17&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L. 
  4. Brian Lopez, “Texas has banned more books than any other state, new report shows,” The Texas Tribune, September 19, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377049?t=19&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L. 
  5. Ibid. 
  6. Mike Hixenbaugh, “How a far-right, Christian cellphone company ‘took over’ four Texas school boards,” NBC News, August 25, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377050?t=21&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L.
  7. Aryn Fields, “Human Rights Campaign and T-Mobile announce initiatives for LGBTQ digital literacy and financial empowerment,” Human Rights Campaign, June 8, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377051?t=23&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L; “T-Mobile makes $2.5 million donation aimed at opening doors to equitable economic and educational opportunities for young adults,” T-Mobile, February 1, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/377052?t=25&akid=55203%2E4731121%2EBEei8L.