Prominent Democrat politicians and left-leaning commentators expressed fury on Thursday following a landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down the race-based admission policies of Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court declared that the race-based admissions programs at these institutions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, triggering the ire of Democrats and left-wing pundits.
Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) argued that the ruling undermined hard-won progress for racial justice. Taking to Twitter, she criticized Chief Justice Roberts’ majority opinion, claiming it “does violence to justice and fairness in America.” Pelosi commended Justice Jackson’s dissenting opinion, finding it inspiring as they continue to fight for equal opportunities for all Americans.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) labeled the decision as “misguided” and claimed it posed a significant obstacle to the country’s pursuit of racial justice. Schumer emphasized that students of color would face limited opportunities in the upcoming admission cycle, hindering their access to colleges and universities compared to previous generations.
Former President Barack Obama expressed concern that the court’s ruling would hinder educational opportunities for minorities. While acknowledging that affirmative action was not a complete solution, he stated that it provided excluded students with a chance to prove their worth. Obama called for renewed efforts in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Donna Brazile, ABC News commentator and former acting Democratic National Committee chair, criticized the justices who supported the decision, accusing them of whitewashing the Constitution. She expressed shock over the weakening of affirmative action, which she viewed as an essential tool for eliminating barriers and providing opportunities.
Activist and MSNBC commentator Al Sharpton characterized the decision as a betrayal, asserting that it made considering race unconstitutional. He argued that it disregarded the historical necessity for affirmative action and its role in addressing systemic barriers.
Princeton professor Eddie Glaude anticipated the emergence of a segregated higher education landscape as a result of the ruling, raising concerns about the admission of Asian students. Glaude’s comments sparked controversy as some perceived them as sounding racist.
Chief Justice John Roberts, in the majority opinion, clarified that universities could still consider personal experiences of racism in college applications but prohibited explicit policies based on an applicant’s race. Roberts emphasized the importance of eliminating all forms of racial discrimination.
The Supreme Court ruling followed a lawsuit brought by a group called Students for Fair Admissions, which accused the schools of unfair race-based admissions practices. The group pointed to instances where Asian-American and white applicants with high test scores were rejected.
Conservatives celebrated the court’s decision, viewing it as a victory for merit-based academic admissions. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court’s stance against systemic discrimination and underscored the importance of merit-based evaluations. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) cautioned against universities circumventing the ruling and questioned whether continued high funding and loan subsidies should be provided to such institutions.