National Urban League Statement on Justice Department Intent to Undo Affirmative Action in College Admissions

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to reports that the U.S. Department of Justice, under the direction of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, intends to challenge the application of affirmative action in college admissions:

“Once again, we in the civil rights community find our progress under attack by the Sessions-led Justice Department and the current administration. News reports that Attorney General Jeff Sessions intends to challenge the 2016 Supreme Court ruling upholding the consideration of race in the college admissions process, coupled with all the other assaults waged on civil rights that he was sworn to protect just six months ago, crystallizes Sessions’ disdain for the advancement of communities of color. We fully condemn any effort by the current Department of Justice to undermine affirmative action in college admissions, taking us back to a period when African Americans did not have equal and fair access to higher education. The National Urban League will do all it can to support our legal defense partners to ensure that our progress and civil rights are and continue to be protected.”