Madison, Wis. – Yesterday, The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled on Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. With the 6-3 ruling, the court struck down affirmative action programs for college admissions. The decision reverses decades of precedent allowing colleges and universities to consider race in their admissions process. SCOTUS had upheld this ability twice over the past twenty years and as recently as 2016. In response, Assistant Democratic Leader Representative Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement:
“It is frightening and disturbing that the conservative justices on this activist court are steadily taking our country down a dark path of undoing decades of precedent, protections, and rights. Their consistent attacks on people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community over the past year indicate an unsustainable trajectory for their freedoms and opportunity.
“Every step forward in the fight for racial justice and equality has been long and difficult and has come at great cost. We cannot afford to take steps back. SCOTUS’ decision to deny opportunities to some of our country’s most economically and socially disadvantaged people is short-sighted and the long-term effects will be devastating not only to people of color, but to our institutions and country as a whole.
“Despite this setback we cannot and will not give up the fight. Elected officials, community leaders and everyday people must stand strong and must stand together to improve conditions, and guarantee freedoms and opportunity for individuals and communities of color.”
