A California lawmaker plans to introduce a bill that would give descendants of slaves priority admission to two of the state's largest public universities.
Democratic Rep. Isaac Bryan, who represents parts of Los Angeles, told The Associated Press he would introduce the bill when lawmakers gather in Sacramento to swear in new members of the new Congress. Bryan said universities have been prioritizing admissions to certain applicants for decades, primarily benefiting donors and their families.
“For decades, universities have given admissions benefits to donors and their families, while other universities tied to legacies of harm have been ignored and sometimes completely excluded,” he said. said. “We have a moral responsibility to do everything in our power to right these wrongs.”
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Rep. Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) plans to introduce a bill that would give descendants of slaves priority admission to the state's public universities. (AP Photo/Ricci Pedroncelli/File)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Bryan's office. The move comes amid expectations that the incoming Trump administration will restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled affirmative action in college admissions illegal. By banning affirmative action but allowing legacy preferences that favor children of alumni and donors, critics say the court made admissions even more biased against students of color. have pointed out.
“There is a growing understanding of California's role in perpetuating the inequalities that resulted from slavery, and a growing desire to redress and heal that harm,” Bryan said.
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University of California, Berkeley (St. Petersburg)
Under the bill, descendants of slaves would receive priority admission to the University of California and California State University systems. Black students made up about 4% of the student population at California State University and about 4.7% at the University of California in 2023, according to the university system's latest report.
The proposal follows efforts to pay reparations to descendants of California slaves, even though the state never recognized slavery. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation in September formally apologizing for the state's legacy of racism and discrimination against Black residents, but reparations efforts have had mixed results.
Lawmakers were also meeting in a special session to consider ways to protect the state's progressive policies ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's second term. President Trump has promised to curb “wokeness” in schools and harshly criticized the Department of Education.
This view shows Simpson Tower and Salazar Hall on the California State University campus in Los Angeles on May 27, 2024. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
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He criticized the ministry and called for it to be dismantled.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
