NCAPA Hails Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Affirmative Action in Higher Education

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) applauds the Supreme Court’s decision today to uphold the University of Texas’s consideration of racial diversity in its admissions process, in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. The Court held that carefully crafted admissions policies that consider racial diversity as one factor in creating a well-rounded student body are constitutional.

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders benefit from being in diverse environments, especially in education--and communities and our as nation as a whole benefit from AANHPI inclusion,” said NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang. “We are very pleased with today’s decision upholding equal opportunity for everyone, as students of color--including AANHPIs--face barriers to higher education. We also seek to foster meaningful diversity--refusing to be pitted against other racial groups and opposing racial isolation. Diversity is at the core of our nation’s strength, and today’s ruling will continue to build upon this important principle.”

Affirmative action does not constitute quotas, limit students of any ethnic or racial backgrounds, or discriminate against Asian Americans. Rather, affirmative action promotes equal opportunity for all.

NCAPA supported affirmative action in an open letter last month joined by more than 150 AANHPI groups and also joined an amicus brief in this case. Additionally, on the day of the Supreme Court’s oral arguments, NCAPA urged the Supreme Court to uphold the admissions program, and Kang spoke at a National Action Network rally.

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 35 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population 

NCAPA member statements:

Advancing Justice (AAJC), National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and Asian American Legal Defense and Eduction Fund (AALDEF) joint statement

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) 

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)

OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA)

Sikh Americans Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)