In a controversial decision that overturns long-standing precedent, the Supreme Court has ruled that colleges and universities can no longer consider race as a specific basis for granting admission. This decision has far-reaching implications for students of color in higher education and the diversity of our nation's campuses.

It also undermines the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection and remains a stark reminder of the current Supreme Court's conservative trajectory and disregard for precedent.

Everyone, regardless of race, gender, or national origin, should have an equal opportunity to succeed. Affirmative action has proven effective at moving closer to that ideal by acknowledging that certain groups have been left behind due to lack of access to capital development, education, or political influence and attempts to level the playing field.

Attacks against affirmative action ignore historical context and purpose: to address systemic and historical inequalities.

Now, after 60 years of attacks, largely due to right-wing misinformation and conservative special interest groups, the Supreme Court has ended affirmative action, dismantling two generations of progress.

Affirmative action and other inclusivity policies have a positive impact. They promote diversity and racial integration and help ensure that colleges, universities, and workplaces reflect the diversity of our society. Without it, we risk reverting to a less inclusive and less equitable society.

We cannot let the Supreme Court undermine these principles. We must protect affirmative action and ensure our colleges and universities remain diverse and inclusive.