In Support of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity in Response to the June 2023 Supreme Court Ban on the use of Affirmative Action in College Admissions

WHEREAS, affirmative action was established in 1961 to promote equal treatment regardless of race, color, religion and national origin, later expanded to include gender in 1971; and

WHEREAS, affirmative action addresses systemic discrimination by ensuring opportunities for marginalized groups and admitting qualified individuals traditionally excluded based on gender, race, ethnicity and disabilities; and

WHEREAS, affirmative action has significantly impacted employment patterns and diversity in educational institutions; and

WHEREAS, in 1978, the Supreme Court allowed race as a factor in college admissions but prohibited quotas; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court upheld diversity benefits in education but struck down quota-like admissions policies in 2003; and

WHEREAS, in June 2023, the Supreme Court banned the use of affirmative action in college admissions presenting Asian American applicants as victims of affirmative action and unfair admission policies disregarding their decades-long fight for equity:

RESOLVED, that the AFT will continue our support of affirmative action and calls for federal legislation to uphold its original intent; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will reaffirm the need for affirmative action to ensure representation and promote diversity and opportunity for all marginalized groups in all sectors; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will assert that affirmative action should continue until discrimination no longer exists in America, and will address misconceptions and challenges to affirmative action policies.