PHILADELPHIA — Today, Mayor Jim Kenney issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College overturning decades of precedent.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action programs at the University of North Carolina and Harvard is deeply disappointing and marks a sad day for our nation. Affirmative action programs have contributed to the desegregation of American colleges and universities and have been an important tool in leveling the playing field for people of color. This decision threatens to roll back progress toward racial equality and continues this Court’s dangerous and unacceptable practice of striking down the constitutional rights of vulnerable communities. The City of Philadelphia remains committed to using every lawful measure at its disposal to ensure that our schools, businesses, and other institutions remain welcoming and diverse.”