Mock Trial: Regents V. Bakke

 Your honor, I stand in front of you today to tell you that if you deem this affirmative action program constitutional, it will be one of America's biggest mistakes in history. It will not only cause a massive riot and protest from the white community, but also endanger those same African Americans you're trying to protect and give rights to. As the African Americans and minorities fight for more rights, shouldn't the government help in making them equal not greater than a white man? Mr. Bakke graduated as a  National Merit Scholar from high school with a GPA of 3.51, exceeding many of the minority students that the University of California accepted within the past two years. Shouldn't a college accept the most qualified candidates to represent their institution, if so then why was Bakke denied admissions twice. 

 

“The Supreme Court . Expanding Civil Rights . Landmark Cases . Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1978): PBS.” The Supreme Court . Expanding Civil Rights . Landmark Cases . Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1978) | PBS, https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_regents.html.

These actions that favor the minorities will only upset the masses, and soon there will be riots on every street burning buildings and destroying property. America has a bad history with whites not responding well with African American progression. After the World War II era, America saw an increase in civil rights activists for the African American Community. With integration of the military in 1948 to the end of “separate but equal;” in schooling, African Americans were making progress. However, ever since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the equal protection clause were set in place, there has been a poor response from whites when it comes to integrating African Americans to society, now you want to deem them better than whites? 
From the end of the 1960’s all the way through the 1970’s, we’ve seen exactly how the white community will respond to problems like the one we are arguing today. In 1968, we witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. one of the Civil Rights most profound advocates, shot and murdered. He was killed by a white man who hated what King and the Black community was fighting for. Although this was one person, many supported his actions. The African American community responded with a series of protests and riots such as the 1968 Washington D.C. riots and the Chicago riots. Both however, were met with violence from dirty police forces who were predominately white and white civilians who aren't big fans of Black progression.

 

So tell me, your honor, are you passing this affirmative action program to help with African American progression? If so, I'm here to tell you America will only see regression, and it won't be long until our country is run the same way it was in the 1800’s. Instead of giving African Americans special privileges, we should be working on integrating them not only into society, but also the workforce. America is suppose to be the country of opportunities, so tell me your honor, is America give Mr. Bakke an opportunity? Or is this highly qualified gentleman’s opportunity being stripped away by America’s 10% of minorities. Everyone should be given a fair chance to prosper in this country, however nothing is given and African Americans should not be given special privileges, not in the education system, not in the workforce, not in America!