For Immediate Release
February 3, 2021
Livingston, New Jersey: On February 3, 2021, the U.S. Justice Department under the Biden Administration abruptly reversed a federal lawsuit against Yale University’s violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and discrimination against Asian-American and white applicants. The Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) strongly denounces the Federal Government’s egregious attack on equal education rights for all American students, especially Asian-American students.
The lawsuit against Yale, filed under the Trump Administration, was a major milestone in the Asian-American community’s fight for equal treatment in educational access and was brought force as a result of a civil rights compliant launched by AACE in May 2016, on behalf of 132 Asian-American organizations. In AACE’s May 2016 administrative complaint, we have shown compelling evidence that Yale and other selective U.S. colleges have applied de facto racial quotas, racial stereotypes and higher admissions standards to discriminate against Asian American applicants. On September 26th, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) notified AACE that it launched an investigation into Yale University’s discriminatory admissions practices against Asian-American applicants, along with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (CRD). After extracurricular activities and other factors are adjusted, an Asian-American applicant has to score on average 140, 270 and 450 points higher than a white student, a Hispanic student and a black student on the SAT, respectively, in order to enjoy the same chances of admissions.
The Biden Administration’s baseless dismissal of the lawsuit showcases its unwillingness to protect Asian-American children against blatant and widespread discrimination. This astonishing regression also exposes the Biden Administration’s hypocrisy in issuing the window-dressing memorandum to combat anti-Asian racism pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Administration’s refusal to defend equality and merit in college admissions will unequivocally harm Asian-American students.
AACE President Mr. Yukong Zhao said: “I am totally shocked by the Biden DOJ’s hasty decision to drop the Yale lawsuit, only eight days after President Biden signed an executive order claiming to combat anti-Asian discrimination. This act reveals that Biden Administration’s promise to help Asian Americans fight against discrimination is just lip service. The Administration has no intention to eliminate true anti-Asian discrimination at the hands of the American establishment. This is purely ugly identity politics that further divides our nation. AACE will not give up. We will fight harder until our children are no longer treated as second-class citizens by American colleges.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dr. Wenyuan Wu, telephone: (786) 393-8028, email: [email protected].
Ms. Swann Lee, telephone: (617) 651-1328, 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.