Jack, on June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative supermajority ruled in favor of ending race-based affirmative action in higher education, overturning decades of precedent that helped to expand access to college education for millions of students.

Notably, the Court did NOT end affirmative action for donors, legacies (students whose parents attended the same university), athletes, and others. The privileged and powerful will continue to enjoy priority access to higher education now explicitly denied students of color.

Sign if you agree: Everyone, no matter what we look like or where we come from, deserves the opportunity to succeed. Protect affirmative action.

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Buried in the majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts is a specific exemption to ending race-conscious admissions policies: The ban on considering race in admissions does NOT apply to military academies "in light of the potentially distinct interests" they may present. Apparently race shouldn't be considered in academic pursuits, only militaristic ones. It's 2023 and people of color are still valued more for our bodies than our minds. You really cannot make this sh*t up.

As both Justices Kentaji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor point out in their explosive dissenting opinions—and I would argue, as the language in the majority and concurring opinions make plain in their attempts to claim colorblindness—in this country, race has always mattered and continues to matter. Despite our incredible gains, racial discrimination still exists. Pretending to be colorblind only further privileges those who already enjoy access and power.

This decision from the Court's extremist right flank does not reflect the reality of most Americans. Diversity is one of our nation's strengths. Our country is at our best when we bring down barriers to ensure all of us—no matter what we look like or where we come from—can get ahead. This is a significant blow to the progress we've made since the 1960s, but it will not stop our march toward freedom and equality for all. May this radicalize us all.

Sign the petition: No matter what, we won’t let SCOTUS scale back progress on educational opportunity and socioeconomic mobility. Protect affirmative action.

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Keep fighting,
Monique Teal, Daily Kos

Read more about the importance of affirmative action policies below.

Jack, affirmative action policies have been a crucial tool in addressing historical and systemic injustices by ensuring marginalized communities have equal access to opportunities in education and employment. It's a fight to level the playing field, to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has a fair shot at success.

Sign the petition: Protect affirmative action!

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Decades of right-wing misinformation and attacks are coming to fruition, threatening to dismantle the very policies that lead to a more equitable society.

In Arkansas, State Senator Dan Sullivan introduced a bill that would remove dozens of laws meant to give minority and women-owned businesses a fair chance. Additionally, Ed Blum—a conservative strategist who lost dozens of cases that attempted to dismantle the use of affirmative action—continues to challenge the college admissions process, like the recently decided Supreme Court cases involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

These attacks ignore affirmative action's historical context and purpose: to address systemic and historical inequalities. Affirmative action and other inclusivity policies have a positive impact. These efforts promote diversity and racial integration, and help ensure that colleges, universities, and workplaces reflect the diversity of our society. Without it, we risk reverting to a less inclusive and less equitable society.

Our nation's diversity is a strength. Overcoming generations of inequality requires proactive policies. It is now more important than ever that we take a stand and voice our support for these essential policies.

Sign the petition: Protect affirmative action!

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Thank you for fighting with us,
Mayra Souza, Daily Kos