Richmond Leader

Washington, D.C. – On June 29, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court released its decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFAI) v. President and Fellows of Harvard and SFAI v. University of North Carolina:

“On June 29 disappointing Supreme Court ruling dismantles affirmative action and undermines an important effort to address racial inequality caused by our nation’s history with racism. This holistic approach to college admissions was integral to creating opportunity for disadvantaged Black and Brown communities. The impact of 246 years of slavery and 100 years of Jim Crow on our communities and institutions did not go away with a magic wand.

“Racial minorities face greater obstacles to educational and economic mobility due to systemic segregation and inequity that persists in neighborhoods, in our school systems, and our country at large. Low-income children and children of color are more likely to live in underfunded school districts. They are also less likely to have parents who pursued higher education or to attend preschool or other early childhood education programs. All of these factors contribute to opportunity gaps that set them at a disadvantage in the college admissions process.

“My own parents experienced the impact of racial discrimination in education in the Jim Crow South, and how education creates opportunities for individuals and communities impacted by generations of racism. Those experiences led them to a lifelong commitment to addressing those impacts as educators, a commitment I share as a legislator. It is deeply disturbing that the Supreme Court ruled on June 29 to restrict opportunities for generations to come.

“The Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action and undermine this critical initiative that has existed for nearly sixty years is detrimental to our nation as a whole and ignores the challenges communities of color face. We must continue to reckon with our nation’s past and work to advance policies that address intergenerational disparities and create opportunity for every American, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, or background.”

Original source can be found here.