Attorney General Anthony G. Brown | Official U.S. House Headshot
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown | Official U.S. House Headshot
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on June 09, to overturn affirmative action programs in college admissions:
“The Supreme Court on June 09, struck down the use of race-conscious admissions programs in higher education, holding that such programs violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. While the Court’s majority noted that educational institutions may still consider how race has affected an applicant’s life, the decision upends decades of legal precedent on which colleges and universities have relied in striving to achieve the myriad benefits of a diverse student body.
“As Justice Sotomayor said in her oral summary of her dissent, ‘the devastating impact of the decision cannot be overstated.’ Ignoring the present-day realities of racial inequality, it ‘cements a superficial rule of colorblindness as a constitutional principle in an endemically segregated society where race has always mattered and continues to matter.’
“This decision jeopardizes the progress made over several decades in our pursuit of diversity and equity. We must not let that happen. A diverse student body enriches the educational experience for all students, creating a vibrant learning environment where students are exposed to different ideas and challenged to think critically. It helps break down barriers, fostering greater understanding and empathy. It prepares students for an increasingly diverse work force in an increasingly interconnected world. I understand that firsthand from my own college experience, service in the military, and quarter century of public service.
“In every sphere - criminal justice, health care, economic and educational opportunity, environmental justice - we cannot relent in our efforts to lift up overburdened and underrepresented communities and to combat our long history of discrimination and systemic racism.
“We must not allow this decision to block our progress. Despite the constraints imposed by this harmful decision, we will continue to fight on all fronts to promote equity and diversity in education and every area for the benefit of all Marylanders.”
https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2023/062923.pdf
Original source can be found here.
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