The following statement was made by OPEIU President Richard Lanigan in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the rights of DACA recipients in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California.

The Supreme Court’s ruling today is a landmark victory for a group of hardworking young people who deserve to live and work without fear of deportation or repression. Though OPEIU celebrates this milestone victory, there is more work to be done to fully win justice for DREAMers. 

Our country is very sick. Our society is on life support.

We don’t just mean the coronavirus. Black people are more likely to die both of COVID-19 and police violence. This is no coincidence; it’s proof that the racial injustice killing people of color in our country is not the fault of some “bad apples,” but runs both wide and deep throughout our society.

We join the family and friends of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, and far too many others in their grief. No one should have to suffer as they do. Our hearts are truly with them, now and always.