There is absolutely nothing new in that Washington Post article. First Generation and URM have made a great deal of progress on areas that directly impact themselves. Emory has increased Questbridge participation and also has its own Essence of Emory program. The Post article mentions the progress at Brown, but certainly not Brown’s opposition to first generation when it comes to legacy admissions. As long as these universities continue down the positive road they have taken, legacy admissions will be positively impacted by these schools being diverse because the alumni will be diverse.
I agree with @nightstalker160 you want your cake and want to eat it too. The only people really impacted by the legacy would be the bottom 6% of the favorable demographic applications. These are the people with whom the OP and friends are most concerned. Instead of being accepted to Emory, the horrors, they may have to go to another top school. Stop the madness!!!