April 01, 2003
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee today joined colleagues in calling for the U.S. Supreme Court not to dismantle Affirmative Action programs for university admissions programs. Lee spoke to several thousand people at a rally in front of the Supreme Court, just before the Court heard oral arguments on the University of Michigan cases, which constitute the challenge to policies that have become part of the country’s social and legal fabric.
In February, Lee joined 110 Members of Congress to file a friend-of-the-court brief in favor of maintaining the Affirmative Action programs. That brief was one of 78 filed in favor of the admissions policies. Among this number were dozens of Fortune 500 companies, the alma maters of every Supreme Court justice, and 21 retired generals and admirals, including three former military academy superintendents.
The Bush Administration provided one of the 19 briefs against the cases.
"Today we are seeing the true face of the Bush Administration," said Lee. "The President claims to advocate for social and racial justice, but then, just weeks after criticizing the racially-sensitive statements of Trent Lott, the President calls for the elimination of Affirmative Action programs. These actions are not only inconsistent, but morally reprehensible."
"If the Supreme Court rules against the University of Michigan in these cases, the fundamental right of African Americans, Latinos, and all people of color to receive a quality education will be seriously compromised. The Supreme Court would essentially be undoing the advances made in civil rights since Brown vs. Board of Education. It would set in place the means to carry out legally a policy of segregation."
"We must not let this happen because we must not turn back the clock to the horrible chapters in our nation’s past."
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee Protests Against Dismantling of Affirmative Action
Thousands Gather in Washington as Supreme Court Hears Univ. of Michigan Cases
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee today joined colleagues in calling for the U.S. Supreme Court not to dismantle Affirmative Action programs for university admissions programs. Lee spoke to several thousand people at a rally in front of the Supreme Court, just before the Court heard oral arguments on the University of Michigan cases, which constitute the challenge to policies that have become part of the country’s social and legal fabric.
In February, Lee joined 110 Members of Congress to file a friend-of-the-court brief in favor of maintaining the Affirmative Action programs. That brief was one of 78 filed in favor of the admissions policies. Among this number were dozens of Fortune 500 companies, the alma maters of every Supreme Court justice, and 21 retired generals and admirals, including three former military academy superintendents.
The Bush Administration provided one of the 19 briefs against the cases.
"Today we are seeing the true face of the Bush Administration," said Lee. "The President claims to advocate for social and racial justice, but then, just weeks after criticizing the racially-sensitive statements of Trent Lott, the President calls for the elimination of Affirmative Action programs. These actions are not only inconsistent, but morally reprehensible."
"If the Supreme Court rules against the University of Michigan in these cases, the fundamental right of African Americans, Latinos, and all people of color to receive a quality education will be seriously compromised. The Supreme Court would essentially be undoing the advances made in civil rights since Brown vs. Board of Education. It would set in place the means to carry out legally a policy of segregation."
"We must not let this happen because we must not turn back the clock to the horrible chapters in our nation’s past."
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