Schumer denounces affirmative action ruling as ‘giant roadblock’ to racial justice
Cami Mondeaux
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) denounced the Supreme Court’s ruling to ban affirmative action in college admission decisions, calling the move a “giant roadblock” to achieving racial justice.
“The consequences of this decision will be felt immediately and across the country, as students of color will face an admission cycle next year with fewer opportunities to attend the same colleges and universities than their parents and older siblings,” Schumer said in a statement. “These negative consequences could continue for generations, as the historic harms of exclusion and discrimination in education and society are exacerbated.”
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Schumer’s statement comes in response to the court’s ruling on Thursday to reverse the landmark 1978 case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, effectively ending the decadeslong practice known as affirmative action. That case had paved the way for colleges to consider race as part of admissions processes, which conservatives have long argued amounts to discrimination.
Schumer pushed back on that notion, arguing affirmative action was crucial to ensuring a level playing field for all college applicants.
“The Court’s misguided decision reminds us how far we still have to go to ensure that all Americans are treated equally,” he said. “Nevertheless, we will not be daunted or deterred by this decision and we reaffirm our commitment to fighting for equal educational opportunities for all.”
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans praised the decision, calling it a “long-overdue step” toward ensuring equality under the law. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) lauded the ruling shortly after it was released, noting it awards students a “fair shot” to achieve their goals through “their merits.”
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“For decades, the Court turned a blind eye as higher education prioritized illegal social engineering over merit,” he wrote in a statement. “Today’s rulings make clear that colleges may not continue discriminating against bright and ambitious students based on the color of their skin.”
The Supreme Court decision was one of two rulings issued on Thursday, slowly chipping away at the cases that remain unreleased as justices prepare to leave town for their summer recess next week. The court is still expected to rule on a handful of high-profile cases, including those that deal with student loans and religious protections.