On Thursday, June 29, 2023, Congressman Al Green confirmed his objections to the recent ruling by the Supreme Court to gut affirmative action in higher education. He released the following statement:

“Today, the United States Supreme Court has willfully ignored centuries of slavery and invidious racial discrimination in its decision to invalidate the use of race in admitting university students. The Supreme Court has made the primary method of upward mobility in this country even more difficult to access for students of color. Educated young people of color advancing in our society and economy is a goal that people of good will should wholeheartedly support. Regrettably, this is a step

backward for our country and a shameful moment in our history.”

Congressman Al Green continued, “It can be argued that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Justice Clarence Thomas are Ivy League graduates because of affirmative action admittance programs. Affirmative action has provided individuals like them a way into Ivy League universities, but not a way out. They become graduates based on merit. Had Justice Jackson and Justice Thomas not been admitted to the Ivy League, it is more than likely that neither would be on the Supreme Court. Affirmative action has provided affirmative opportunities for capable, competent, and qualified persons to succeed on their merits or fail on their demerits. It is still much needed in the face of some 246 years of slavery, more than 88 years of lawful segregation, and ongoing invidious discrimination.”