Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Meta Platforms Inc. and Apple Inc. are among nearly 70 companies filing a brief with the US Supreme Court in support of affirmative action programs being challenged at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
The brief filed Monday argues corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts “depend on university admissions programs that lead to graduates educated in racially and ethnically diverse environments.”
“Only in this way can America produce a pipeline of highly qualified future workers and business leaders prepared to meet the needs of the modern economy and workforce,” the brief said. The cases are the first on affirmative action to come before the justices since conservatives gained a 6-3 majority.
A separate brief filed by tech companies is also expected Monday.
Roughly as many companies signed the amicus, or friend of the court, filing arguing affirmative action is a business imperative as in a 2003 case involving the University of Michigan Law School. Fewer joined similar efforts in two more recent cases involving the University of Texas at Austin.
This time, however, businesses risk inflaming a conservative backlash against companies taking progressive stances.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion advocates say it’s still important for the business community to make its voice heard.
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