From the Office of Jeff Carter, President and CEO
Washington D.C. - We are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Affirmative Action programs in college admissions – programs designed to acknowledge and rectify the historical and ongoing systemic barriers faced by marginalized groups. And while Affirmative Action did not completely solve the problem, it did give students of color hope, providing an additional roadmap for them to secure a successful future anchored by a college education.
As a leading national environmental organization, we continuously encounter talented young people of color who are eager to pursue higher education to protect the environment and address climate change. Often, this is because they have lived with the disproportionate impact of environmental damage on their communities. Our country needs to do more to support those students, not less.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a blow to everyone working to build a more inclusive democracy. We should all remember that efforts to deny or limit access to education has always been about keeping certain people in our society from challenging the dominant white power structure of this country.
Furthermore, while this decision applies solely to the college admissions process, we are concerned, as are others, that the court’s rationale could surface legal challenges to environmental justice laws that seek to address the disproportionate impacts of environmental damage borne by communities of color.
We stand in support of those in the education community who, despite these challenges, will continue to press forward to ensure that all people can access and succeed on a collegiate level and beyond. It is up to all of us to work in solidarity to discover and implement strategies to change the trajectory of history for those who have been disadvantaged. Whether reducing or eliminating legacy admissions policies which could open opportunities for students of color and other marginalized groups, solutions must lead to a realistic pathway for young people from diverse backgrounds to have access to opportunities provided by higher learning.
Jeff Carter
President and CEO
Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund
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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Learn more at www.cleanwater.org.