REVERE, MA — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina: 

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action undermines five decades of precedent and our nation’s continued march toward progress — obstructing students of color from exercising their right to equal opportunity in higher education.

“The Court’s extreme conservative majority has applied a color-blind standard when we know we don’t live in a color-blind society. As Justice Sotomayor put it, this ruling only further entrenches racial inequality in education — ‘the very foundation of our democratic government and pluralistic society.’

“As we learn more about what this means for the future of college admissions, House Democrats remain committed to upholding and honoring diversity and inclusion in all of our nation’s institutions — from college campuses and the ranks of our Armed Forces, to Capitol Hill and corporate boardrooms. We must ensure everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in our democracy.”