Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — May 3, 2025 — State Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) hosted a legislative session recap and town hall Thursday evening in the Round Room of the Craighead County/Jonesboro Public Library.
Robert Steinbuch, a professor of law at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, accompanied Sullivan. The two answered questions regarding recent state legislative action, including library funding, anti-affirmative action laws, the push to secure emergency funding for storm relief and more.
While Steinbuch answered a few questions initially, many in attendance said he was not who they came to hear, calling for only Sullivan to respond. Steinbuch did not answer any questions after that.
During the town hall, Jonesboro Police Department officers were called during a heated discussion about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Police arrived around 6:55 p.m. and stayed for the remainder of the meeting.
Officers did not escort anyone out of the meeting, but did ask attendees to stay orderly and not speak over each other.
Sullivan said of the police presence: “If it’s going to be this way, I want JPD here.”
Sullivan’s legislation aiming to end DEI initiatives, and the fact that Jonesboro Economic Transit (JET) buses and trollies provided free transportation for all riders on Social Justice and Equality Day, which was on April 25, were subject to lengthy discussion.
Sullivan had previously criticized the free rides on Facebook, saying it violated Act 747, which prohibits DEI practices, policies, offices and officers in city and county government. Sullivan sponsored that legislation, which goes into effect Aug. 5.
During the town hall, Sullivan said he had questioned four Jonesboro city councilmembers, as well as Mayor Harold Copenhaver and Donna Malone, director of communications for the city, about the free rides and received no response.
He also referenced comments made by Shamal Carter, president of the Craighead County NAACP, during the celebration for Social Justice and Equality Day, saying they were partisan.
Carter, who attended the town hall, defended his comments and said the issues he discussed had nothing to do with race or political party.
“I did pick out people of color, people of the LGBTQIA+ community and other issues. So those are social justice issues, if you define it, those were the issues that we were fighting against. There was nothing about a race or party,” Carter said.
Later, when asked if he was planning to pursue action or litigation against the City of Jonesboro for the actions he believes violated anti-DEI policies, Sullivan did not provide a reply.
One attendee, John Thompson, questioned Sullivan’s legislation to end DEI in public schools and higher education. He then asked if he thought Arkansas State University should make it one of its goals to implement diversity and inclusion.
“I’m sure you know, DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion. I know that me and you may not ever agree on the equity part, but I just want to get some reassurance that you did not vote for that bill because you didn’t agree with diversity and inclusion on college campuses like Arkansas State,” Thompson told Sullivan.
Thompson suggested Sullivan to come to the A-State campus and see and meet with members of the Multicultural Center and the Black Student Association (BSA). He also asked Sullivan if he was aware of how anti-DEI laws could affect clubs like the BSA.
The senator replied that he could not assure Thompson that no one wouldn’t take action against any legal action against the university for a supposed violation of anti-DEI laws.
Several attendees asked Sullivan if his plan was to secure emergency funding for storm-battered communities in Northeast Arkansas. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal emergency aid from President Donald Trump, which was denied. Sanders and Arkansas legislators are working to appeal the decision.
Sullivan responded that a caucus was scheduled for Monday, May 5, in which legislators would discuss how to use state emergency funds for disaster relief.
“We are going to talk about that emergency fund,” Sullivan said. “You can’t spend that money without authorization.” He added that while no vote will be taken, he would update constituents on social media about what was discussed.
Those in attendance also questioned Sullivan’s bill aiming to dismantle the boards overseeing Arkansas PBS and the State Library, as well as his legislation aiming to place the Arkansas State Library under the Arkansas Department of Education.
Kimberly Warmth, a chairperson on the NEA Regional Library Board, asked how such legislation was supportive of his district.
“I would like to know how you saw that (legislation) as being something that was supportive of your district and what was your thought process behind that, because I do not understand that,” she said.
Sullivan replied that PBS had a “terrible audit” and that the board “refused” to take any action regarding the results. He also said he asked the board to put out a statement that it would “protect children” from “sexually explicit content,” which he said the board refused to do.
Attendees called on Sullivan to work to acquire more funding for the Craighead County/Jonesboro Public Library. The library had its funding cut in half in 2022. The issue to raise the millage to return the funding to its original budget went before voters in 2024 and failed.
Sullivan replied that both sides had to learn to come together on the issue of the library’s funding.
The full meeting can be viewed here.