In observance of the 70th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins released the following statement: 

“Seventy years ago, the Supreme Court rightly recognized that segregation has no place in a fair and just society. The ruling — which declared that segregation violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment — helped fuel the fire of the Civil Rights Movement and paved the path for the advocates and leaders who followed.  

“Trailblazing attorneys and courageous students put their reputations and lives on the line to guarantee that all Americans have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and craft a future in their vision. One of the most consequential decisions in civil rights history, Brown remains a touchstone for every decision and policy that has followed.

“As extremist Republicans wage attacks on equal opportunity, culminating in the destruction of affirmative action, we must channel the fearlessness of the civil rights pioneers who came before us. Democrats from the White House to local office refuse to turn back the clock on the hard-earned progress we’ve made to advance racial justice and educational outcomes, which is why the Biden-Harris Administration is taking bold action to ensure colleges and universities have the resources and support they need to build on the legacy of Brown. President Biden and Vice President Harris forgave $160 billion in student loan debt for 4.6 million borrowers, invested a record in federal funding and investments totaling over $16 billion in HBCUs, and called on schools to increase transparency in their admissions practices that will lead to more diverse student bodies – this is just the start.

“Democrats will not stand idly by in the face of attacks on equity and justice for Black Americans. President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to defending the rights solidified in Brown vs. Board of Education and moving our country, our freedom, and our democracy forward.”