“For decades, affirmative action has empowered educational institutions to address systemic inequities that have long-prevented Black communities, and people of color more broadly, from accessing the same opportunities as their peers. Today’s Supreme Court decision to strike affirmative action is a loss for our civil rights and the long-standing struggle for justice and equity. It prevents our institutions of higher learning from promoting racial diversity and inclusivity in our classrooms – values that benefit all students.

“As Justice Sotomayor shared in her dissenting opinion: “Ignoring race will not equalize a society that is racially unequal. What was true in the 1860s, and again in 1954, is true today: Equality requires acknowledgment of inequality.”

“Despite the implications made by conservative members of the Court, racial inequities persist and permeate our society in deeply rooted ways. It’s critical for us as a city and country to advance policies that ensure that everyone, especially those from traditionally underserved communities, can have equitable access to opportunity.”

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