Rep. Jarrells Condemns Supreme Court Ruling as a Regressive Blow to Racial Equity and Inclusion

COLUMBUS– State Representative Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today condemned the United States Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action programs for colleges and universities.

In a 6-2 decision, with Justice Jackson recusing herself, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the landmark case Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The case involved Harvard University’s undergraduate admission process, which utilizes affirmative action programs to diversify their student body. The Court determined that affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional.

“Today’s destructive decision, by a reactionary activist court, devastates our collective struggle to secure equitable access to education and opportunity for all,” said Rep. Jarrells. “Millions of Americans will feel the sting of today’s decision, and the progress we’ve made is all but eliminated.”

This ruling effectively overrules Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) and Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), both of which validated the use of affirmative action programs in college admissions as long as race was not used as the sole deciding factor. The premise of The Court’s decision is that these programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

“I vow to challenge this setback and to advocate for legislation and systemic changes that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in Ohio and across our nation,” said Rep. Jarrells. "Our fight does not end here, and I will continue my commitment to advocate for fairness and justice in our education system and across all societal sectors."