EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) said she was “appalled” after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action.
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Condemning the SCOTUS decision, the Congresswoman said it limits universities’ ability to build diverse student bodies while letting the legacy admission remain.
Watson Coleman is the Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force.
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“I am appalled by the decision of the Supreme Court to eliminate the right of universities and colleges to address historic inequality and to consider racial diversity in its admission process. Schools that have been forced to end the use of affirmative action have seen sharp declines in the admissions of African Americans and Latinos to their student bodies. Equal access to opportunity depends on diversity in education,” Watson Coleman said.
In a 6-3 decision, SCOTUS ended race-conscious affirmative action policies that for decades increased diversity on campuses. The court held that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, effectively eliminating the ability of colleges and universities to use affirmative action to achieve a racially diverse student body.
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“Through this decision, the extremist conservative-wing of the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the entrenched power of the super wealthy while cutting the legs out from under minority students who have excelled despite a lack of resources. Affirmative action will still exist but only for legacy admissions of the children of alumni and the children of donors who are principally white,” Watson Coleman said.
“It is important that our universities reflect the diversity of the nation at large and provide equitable opportunity for success for all students. Universities have used consideration of race as one of many factors in their approach to admissions. Today’s decision limits universities’ ability to build out the greatest possible student body.”
Criticizing the SCOTUS, Watson Coleman said the decision was among a continuing series of scandals and partisan decisions that have led to a “significant loss of faith in the Court’s fairness and impartiality.”
“We’ve seen wealthy donors and extreme far-right activists capture the Supreme Court and push their own radical agenda that is at odds with everyday Americans’ modern conceptions of fairness and equality. The American People have been held hostage to a far-right agenda, propagated by a court filled with Justices in stolen seats nominated by presidents who lacked a popular mandate,” Watson Coleman said.
The Congresswoman once again called for reform in the judicial system.
“As we work past today knowing our fight is that much harder, I believe solutions like the Judiciary Act to expand the court can return balance and sanity to what has become an out of control branch of government. I will continue to work to ensure the American people have a Supreme Court and Judicial Branch that they can have faith in,” she said.
SCOTUS overhauled the almost 40-year precedent in the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College case. More: Supreme Court Bans Affirmative Action At NJ Colleges
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recused herself from the case, having attended Harvard herself and being on its Board of Overseers.
The ruling is expected to impact the admissions process at many universities which have taken affirmative action into consideration since the 1960s.
Many predominantly white colleges and universities developed affirmative action plans in the 1960s and 1970s as they struggled to attract people from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. Polices were also created to promote greater inclusion of women.
According to studies, the percentage of Black and Hispanic students will decrease across campuses, while the number of Asian-American students will likely increase.
Hours after the SCOTUS decision, Gov. Phil Murphy released a statement condemning the action, saying it takes the country backward.
He said the decision will make it harder for institutions to implement admission policies that promote equitable access to education.
“The Supreme Court’s extreme stance does not reflect the values of New Jersey. My administration remains committed to advancing equity in every area of our society and will be working with our partners in higher education to determine ways to promote equitable admissions within the constraints of this ruling,” Murphy said.
Nine states — Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington — have banned race-based admissions policies at public colleges and universities.
(With reporting from Kara Seymour, Patch Staff)
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