“Today, the conservative Justices of our Supreme Court rendered a deadly blow to the future of affirmative action in higher education. The 6-3 decision erroneously recognizes the impressionable marks of slavery, the Black Codes, Jim Crow, and the New Jim Crow as relics rather than the current reality for Black and Brown people. The conservative Justices mistakenly believed that the adverse effects of discrimination had been cured and that educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body are no longer a compelling government interest in admissions decisions to allow narrowly tailored affirmative action policies. The court is absolutely misguided in its opinion that affirmative action policies are discriminatory. Moreover, it is unconscionable to think that this decision will not harm students of color as it did with the University of Michigan, which saw its Black student population decrease by 44% between 2006 and 2021 after adopting race-neutral policies.
Though today’s decision is rendered in the context of educational opportunities, the ruling provides a bleak forecast for other areas of affirmative action, like in awarding contracts and opportunities for Minority-Owned Women Businesses. The State of New York must act to protect the progress we have made at leveling the playing field for Black and Brown communities, and I stand eager to work with the Senate Majority to enact legislation to do just that.”
