Asian Americans Advancing Justice Responds To Circuit Court Upholding Finding of No Discrimination Against Asian Americans in Harvard’s Race-Conscious Admissions Policy
Washington, DC — November 13, 2020 — Asian Americans Advancing Justice, an affiliation of five independent Asian American civil rights organizations, releases the following statement on the favorable affirmative action decision by U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Massachusetts:
“Affirmative action recognizes that racism exists. Asian Americans Advancing Justice stands firm in its recognition that ongoing racism, segregation, and inequality unfortunately continue to shape and limit educational opportunities for Blacks, Latinx, and other racial minorities, including Asian Americans. Colleges and universities need to recognize that reality in order to fairly evaluate a candidate’s application, their accomplishments, and their potential.
The court’s decision upholds a long line of U.S. Supreme Court precedent and affirms the value of diversity and equity. Race-conscious admissions policies foster inclusion and equal opportunities for students of color and do not discriminate against any group, including the Asian American community. We will continue to fight for diversity and equal access to educational, employment and contracting opportunities for all communities of color.”
About Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice | AAJC (Washington, DC), Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice – Chicago.