The UNC System Board of Governors on Thursday voted to repeal a five-year-old policy mandating diversity, equity and inclusion offices on each of its 17 campuses, paving the way for diversity jobs to by cut systemwide.

The axed policy had also required the UNC system office plus all UNC universities to work toward DEI goals. The 24-member board voted by voice; two black trustees voted no on the new policy, WRAL Raleigh reported.

The vote prompted protests near the meeting, some of which become violent, according to reporters on the scene.