San Francisco -- Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus' Litigation Director, Winnie Kao, issued the following statement today following the Supreme Court decision in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action. Advancing Justice - ALC was co-counsel to the Coalition (BAMN) plaintiffs in the case and Winnie is available for interview at (410) 908-5936. Shanta Driver, the attorney who argued the case for the BAMN plaintiffs before the Supreme Court issued a press statement this morning which is available here.  Shanta is available for interview at (313) 407-4865.

"In its decision this morning to uphold Michigan's ban on affirmative action, the Supreme Court in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action has turned its back on our nation's commitment to racial equality and equal treatment under the law.

Equal political process lies at the heart of our democracy because it is the doorway to preserve all other rights.  The Court's decision, however, shamefully codifies an unequal political process for racial minorities.  The Court has allowed a white majority of voters in Michigan to change the rules of the game and create two separate and unequal tracks to access the state's public universities.  Racial minorities and others fighting for integration and equality must now overcome the huge task of passing a constitutional amendment to secure constitutionally permissible race-conscious programs, while all others, including alumni and game-day boosters may simply lobby the Regents directly for their own admissions considerations.

We have seen the devastating impact of the unequal political process created by California's own identical ban on affirmative action, Prop 209.  It has led to a re-segregation of public higher education in this state and admissions processes that turn a blind eye to the effects of racism and inequality in K-12 education, the biased limitations of standardized testing, and the real-life experiences and obstacles that minority applicants face.  The recent setback in efforts to legislatively repeal Prop 209 only underscore the reality of the unequal political process for minority groups.  See ALC's position on SCA 5 here.

We join BAMN's call to build and support the growing civil rights and immigrant rights movement to restore racial progress in this society and fight for integration and equality in public higher education.  It took a civil rights movement to overcome the old Jim Crow.  We are committed to building that movement again."

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About Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus:

Advancing Justice - ALC was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights Asian American organization. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, Advancing Justice - ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society, with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Visit: http://advancingjustice-alc.org.