Biden criticizes Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling: ‘Court is not normal’

President Biden Slams Supreme Court’s Decision on Affirmative Action

President Joe Biden strongly criticized the Supreme Court’s recent reversal of a affirmative action ruling: ‘Court is not normal'”>college admissions affirmative action precedent, which comes just a year after the court overturned Roe v. Wade. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Biden expressed his disappointment, stating, “Today, the court once again walked away from decades of precedent. The court has effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions, and I strongly, strongly disagree with the court’s decision.”

Biden emphasized that affirmative action does not mean admitting unqualified applicants and urged colleges and higher education institutions to continue considering the adversity students have overcome. He also reiterated the existence of racism in the country.

“I believe our colleges are stronger when they’re racially diverse,” Biden asserted. “We cannot let this decision be the last word.”

Responding to a reporter’s question about the court’s legitimacy, Biden added, “This is not a normal court.”

Supreme Court’s Decision and Reactions

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College overturned race-based admissions policies in eight states. Chief Justice John Roberts-led majority found that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina’s programs violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, contradicting the anti-discrimination landmark case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke from 1978.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama also expressed their thoughts on the decision. While acknowledging that affirmative action wasn’t perfect, Barack Obama stated, “But it allowed generations of students like Michelle and me to prove we belonged.”

Michelle Obama, in a separate statement, reflected on her experience as “one of the few black students” at Princeton University and the doubts she had about whether she was admitted because of affirmative action. However, she emphasized, “But the fact is this: I belonged. And semester after semester, decade after decade, for more than half a century, countless students like me showed they belonged, too.”

Republican 2024 presidential candidates welcomed the decision, as it does not apply to military academies and does not prevent applicants from discussing race in their admissions essays. Similar legal challenges to other diversity policies are ongoing.

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