UPDATED ADVISORY : Supreme Court Rally and Press Conference to Support Diversity in Univ. of Texas Admissions

Media 10.9.12

**UPDATED ADVISORY – TIME CHANGED TO 11:00 AM – SPEAKERS ADDED **

(Washington, D.C.) On Wednesday, October 10, a wide range of organizations, institutions and individuals who support educational opportunity will rally at the U.S. Supreme Court. The rally is scheduled for the day of oral argument in Fisher v. University of Texas. The plaintiff in Fisher asks the Court to declare the admissions policy of the University inconsistent with, or to entirely overrule, Grutter v. Bollinger, a 2003 case in which the Supreme Court ruled that race could play a limited role in the admissions policies of universities. A reversal of Grutter could end the consideration of race in admissions policies in colleges and universities across the country, both public and private

The Fisher case has implications for diversity, educational opportunity, the future of our workforce, and America’s global competitiveness. Therefore, civil rights, corporate, social justice, political, and student leaders will stand united for opportunity before the Supreme Court on the day of oral argument.

Quote from Wade Henderson, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights:

“The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights invites all people to join us on October 10 to stand up for fairness in college admissions; to stand up for expanding opportunity to all Americans; and to stand up for a judicial precedent that is balanced, fair, and in the best interests of our nation.”

WHERE:         RALLY STEPS OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT – MEDIA CHECK IN AVAILABLE AT THE UNITED METHODIST BUILDING [100 Maryland Avenue NE]

WHEN:           WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 — 11:00 AM TO 1 PM 

SPEAKERS (List in Formation):

  • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Lee Saunders
  • American Federation of Teachers (AFT) – Speaker TBD
  • Asian American Justice Center- member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice- Mee Moua  & Jacinta Ma
  • Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund- Khin Mai Aung
  • Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)- Gregory “Greg” Cendana
  • Generational Alliance – Carmen Berkley
  • Howard University School of Law- Lisa Crooms-Robinson
  • Japanese American Citizens League-Priscilla Ouchida
  • Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity- Charles Noble
  • Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under Law- Tanya Clay House
  • League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)- Brent Wilkes
  • Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund- James Ferg-Cadima 
  • National Action Network- Reverend Al Sharpton & Janaye Ingram
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)- Ben Jealous
  • National Black Law Students’ Association- Kendra Brown
  • National Council of La Raza (NCLR)- Raul Gonzalez
  • National Council of Jewish Women- Jody Rabhan
  • National Urban League- Chanelle Hardy
  • National Education Association (NEA)- Alice O’ Brien
  • National Organization of Women (NOW) – Terry O’Neill
  • National Pan Hellenic Council- Speaker TBD
  • National Partnership for Women & Families – Speaker TBD
  • Organization of Chinese Americans- Tom Hayashi
  • People for the American Way- Diallo Brooks
  • South Asian Americans Leading Together- Deepa Iyer
  • Southeast Asia Resource Action Center- Quyen Dinh
  • United Negro College Fund- Dr. Michael Lomax
  • United States Student Association- Sophia Zaman & Victor Sanchez
  • UT Parents- Judy Graves & Orell Fitzsimmons
  • Western Justice Center, Angela Oh