AFT staffers and affiliate leaders were among thousands who gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday to show their support for affirmative action. Inside, the Supreme Court justices heard arguments challenging the race-based admissions policies at the University of Michigan and its law school.

The court's decision in this highly anticipated case could end any state-sponsored affirmative action or could change the rules for when race may be a factor in government decisions.

Among those at the rally were Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel president David Hecker, AFT executive council member Ruby Newbold, who is also president of the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees, and AFT executive council member and Detroit Federation of Teachers president Janna Garrison. Garrison was among a number of speakers to address the mostly pro-affirmative action crowd of more than 5,000, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and NAACP head Kweisi Mfume.

At noon, as arguments continued inside the court, the demonstrators marched to the Lincoln Memorial carrying signs and chanting "We won't take re-segregation, equal quality education" and "Separate but equal is a lie, affirmative action must not die."

At its meeting in Florida in January, the AFT executive council approved a resolution directing the AFT to file an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the University of Michigan's affirmative action plan.

Not since the court ruled out quotas in the University of California v. Bakke decision a quarter-century ago had justices come to such a direct confrontation with the affirmative action issue, notes the Associated Press. Their decision, expected in July, will be awaited not only by higher education but by the business world as well. [Adrienne Coles/Associated Press/Foster Stringer]

[April 1, 2003]