Day: June 30, 2023

WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus Executive Vice President Tanya Clay House issued the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court 6-3 decision in the Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown cases on student loan debt:

“Hip Hop Caucus is sadly not surprised that the current United States Supreme Court has once again failed to stand with the American people in this decision to overturn President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. Despite this ruling, we stand with the Administration’s ability to cancel student loan debt and we encourage President Biden to continue to fight on behalf of everyday Americans by finding another legal remedy, including continuing the current pause on student loan payments implemented during the pandemic.   

Black people, particularly Black women, and borrowers under age 40 represent a majority of the $1.7 trillion dollars in U.S. federal student loan debt.. Student loan debt disproportionately burdens people of color, who already face significant economic disparities compared to their White counterparts. Communities across the board are continually feeling the weight of food insecurity, rising housing and education costs, and medical costs, making the need to cancel all student loan debt increasingly urgent. 

With approximately $27 million everyday Americans now not able to receive any relief from student loan debt despite millions of debt being forgiven for business, legislators and many in economically privileged classes during COVID, Hip Hop Caucus fails to see the equity in this Supreme Court ruling. A nation worth $25 trillion dollars that spends nearly $1 trillion dollars on its defense budget and provides trillions in tax cuts to billionaires can afford to clear the debt of average Americans across the country.” 

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

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WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus Executive Vice President Tanya Clay House issued the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court 6-3 decision in the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis case on LGBTQIA+ rights:

“Open for business no longer means to everyone. Hip Hop Caucus is not surprised as much as it is saddened that on the last day of Pride month, the United States Supreme Court has ruled to deny public accommodations to the LGBTQ+ community, a protected class, based upon the prejudices of people. While this case was brought under the Free Speech Clause, this ruling has opened the door to discrimination against any protected class.

As Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, ‘Today, the Court, for the first time in its history, grants a business open to the public a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class.’

This is another sad day for our nation. In many states around this nation, you can still get married on Sunday, get fired on Monday and get legally put out of your home on Tuesday for being who you are and loving who you love. Moreover, the trans community is under attack daily from extremist state legislators pushing draconian bills banning trans athletes from participating in sports and from using public restrooms.

Despite this traumatic ruling, Hip Hop Caucus calls upon the United States Congress to pass the Equality Act. We need Congress to do as it has done in the past and again pass legislation which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system as an addendum to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  

“We know that this is only the beginning of the fight to claw back LGBTQIA+ Rights in this nation coming from this court and we urge everyone to stand with Hip Hop Caucus in fighting to protect the civil rights of all Americans” 

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

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