Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling striking down plans in Louisville and Seattle that were designed to promote racial diversity in their public schools. Members of CAPAC made the following statements:

Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15): "As a former school board member, principal, and teacher, I know firsthand how diversity within our student bodies is an asset to our school systems," said Rep. Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). "While pleased that the Supreme Court found promoting diversity and avoiding racial isolation to be compelling state interests, I fear that this ruling will drastically limit the power of school districts to attain diversity, and will instead promote racial resegregation."

Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03): "I am extremely disappointed in today’s Supreme Court decision invalidating Seattle’s effort to promote diversity in its public schools," said Rep. Scott, Chair of CAPAC’s Civil Rights Task Force. "As a result of this decision, implementing voluntary programs that promote diversity will be much more difficult to design, even if the purpose is to avoid de facto segregation. Diversity in the classroom prepares students to be successful in living and working in the real world."