This is true, but it's also true that people love to point at the most outrageously wrong and racist opposition to DEI (like this--a nonsensical case where the result of a democratic vote is called "DEI") instead of tackling legitimate criticisms of the practice of DEI as usually implemented (or the specific ways in which the principles of DEI are construed).

There is a lot of rhetoric from the pro-DEI crowd that sounds very very much like zero-sum game rhetoric. Lots of "white patriarchy" this and "too many white men" that and "oppression" and "exploitation" and so on. All of those things are true in at least some instances, but if it's the focus it makes it seem like DEI is zero-sum (or possibly even negative-sum when merit is explicitly attacked as a form of gatekeeping). Racists aren't manipulating that. Self-styled anti-racists are manipulating that.

If we're going to actually have net-positive policies that are based in the intellectual/productivity advantages of diversity, the fairness of equity, and the peace of mind of inclusion, we need to find a way to keep our attention on the goal, not allow mutually-reinforced antagonism to dominate the messaging.

Once we start getting a lot of articles like "The biggest flaws in DEI efforts, and how to fix them," rather than "Loony racists who screamed CRT then Woke now scream DEI--who are you with, us or the loony racists?" we'll be much better situated to achieve the promise of DEI.