Statement by National NOW President Christian F. Nunes
WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Supreme Court overturned another 50 years of precedent today when it struck down the consideration of race in college admissions. But nothing can stop the determination of NOW members to stay in this fight for racial justice and equal opportunity.
In her eloquent dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote, “With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces “colorblindness for all” by legal fiat. But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”
By the time the students who will be hurt by this ruling even make it to college, they have already navigated intersecting cycles of discrimination, affecting their health care, nutrition, education, and opportunity.
The Supreme Court may think it can ring down the curtain on racial discrimination from their bench, but here in the real world, we know better.
The demand for racial justice won’t fade because of this one ruling.
Our colleges and universities can’t give up on their commitment to inclusive education, even if the Supreme Court won’t make it the law of the land. NOW members will continue to support schools, educators, and lawmakers who believe in equality. And we’ll stand up to state lawmakers who want to seize control of every aspect of education and remake our schools in their own, narrow image.