Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Supreme Court Decision Regarding Affirmative Action
Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the United States Supreme Court decision on Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action that upheld Michigan Proposal 2, prohibiting the states public colleges and universities from utilizing affirmative action policies:
“Over the decades, research has shown that institutional and structural racism are barriers in educational achievement and success in the workforce, but today's Supreme Court decision takes our country backward by overturning public policies that protect minorities against discrimination. Getting rid of these policies will further stack the deck against students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and it will have ripple effects in our economy in the years to come.
"Unfortunately, in 1996, my home state of California enacted Proposition 209, which was a ban on affirmative action. As a result, California's public universities have had low racial diversity and do not reflect the full breadth of California's students. We have seen the after-effects of banning affirmative action.
"This decision will put true education diversity out of reach and protect preferences for children of donors, athletes, and children of alumni, but treat racial identity as if it does not exist."