Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling Sparks Mixed Reactions

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down race-based admissions policies at U.S. colleges, known as affirmative action policies, has sparked both celebration and disappointment. Prior to this ruling, colleges were allowed to consider an applicant’s race when making admissions decisions. However, the Supreme Court has now deemed these policies unconstitutional.

In the past, the Supreme Court had ruled that colleges could favor minority groups as long as they also considered other factors beyond race and did not implement racial quota systems. However, the recent case of Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College challenged affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, with a particular focus on the impact on college applicants of Asian descent.

SFFA founder and president Edward Blum expressed his satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “The opinion issued today by the United States Supreme Court marks the beginning of the restoration of the colorblind legal covenant that binds together our multi-racial, multi-ethnic nation. These discriminatory admission practices undermined the integrity of our country’s civil rights laws.”

Outside the Supreme Court, supporters of SFFA celebrated the decision, holding banners and signs with messages such as “Stop anti-Asian discrimination” and “Diversity ≠ skin color.” Among those celebrating were members of the Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE).

However, not all Asian Americans agreed with the Supreme Court’s decision. Activists affiliated with OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates criticized the ruling, emphasizing that Asian Americans are not a monolithic group and that the arguments presented do not represent all of them.

Affirmative Action Opponents Celebrate

“I’m thrilled for the Asian American community and for all Americans. This is a historic victory,” said AACE founding president Yukong Mike Zhao. “From now on, our children and future generations will not be treated as second-class citizens in college admissions.”

Jonathan Butcher, a senior research fellow in education policy at the conservative Heritage Foundation, also expressed his support for the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that it is a significant victory for students of all backgrounds and races.