For Immediate Release
October 1, 2019
Livingston, New Jersey: Representing more than 260 Asian-American organizations nationwide, the Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) strongly condemns the court ruling by Federal Judge Allison D. Burroughs on the Harvard admissions case as an act of whitewashing Harvard’s discriminatory admissions practices and an unfortunate attack on Asian-American children’s equal education rights.
Such a retrogressive decision discounts overwhelming evidence documenting the school’s egregious anti-Asian discrimination in its college admissions process, and showcases the court’s biased alliance with the defendant on a basis of political correctness and elitist arrogance. The court finding of facts and law is a “professionally packaged” document that weighs in heavily on Harvard’s expert testimonies while totally sidetracks reports submitted by the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA). Using ambivalent language (i.e. “it is possible”) and laughable excuses, Judge Burroughs shamelessly defended Harvard’s discriminatory behaviors, but failed to explain why Asian-American applicants were held to the highest admission standards, had the lowest admissions ratios and were consistently rated lowest in personal rating.
Not only does the ruling violate Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, it but also sets a dangerous precedent that condones institutionalized discrimination against Asian-American students. Going forward, AACE vows to support all SFFA’s future endeavors to pursue Harvard and defend equal education rights!
Mr. Yukong Zhao, President of AACE said: “Today marks a dark day for millions of Asian-American children nationwide. Our nation has witnessed another immoral attempt by America’s ruling class to continue its institutionalized discrimination against Asian-American children and treat them as second-class citizens with regard to educational opportunities. Asian-American communities will not give up. We call up all discriminated-against Asian-American children to join the fight against Harvard and will continue support SFFA in this important fight for our children’s equal education rights!”
Asian American Coalition for Education
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dr. Wenyuan Wu, telephone: (786) 393-8028, email: [email protected].
Ms. Swann Lee, telephone: (617) 829-3559, email: [email protected].
About the AACE: www.asianamericanforeducation.org
Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) is a non-political, nonprofit, grassroots national organization, the proven leader in fighting for Asian-American children’s equal educational rights. On May 15, 2015, the founders of AACE united 64 Asian-American organizations and jointly filed a civil rights complaint with the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to request that they conduct investigations into Harvard University’s discriminatory admissions practices against Asian-American applicants. As the largest joint action taken by Asian-American communities over the last few decades, this complaint is now being investigated by the Justice Department. Over the years, we have advanced the cause of equal education rights for the Asian-American community.