CA: Prop 54 Scores a Major Victory in Court Today

Yes on Proposition 54 ^ | 08-29-03 | Diane Schachterle

[Alia]

August 29, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Diane Schachterle (916) 444-2278 or ds@racialprivacy.org

PROP 54 SCORES A MAJOR VICTORY IN COURT TODAY

SACRAMENTO -- In an eleventh hour attempt to legitimize their false and misleading characterization of Proposition 54 as an “Information Ban”, MALDEF filed an action in Superior Court to change several parts of the voter pamphlet to reflect their political strategy. The Judge struck down virtually the entire action.

The following Requested Changes were all denied:

The Ballot Label Currently reads: Prohibits state and local governments from classifying any person by race, ethnicity, color, or national origin.

Requested change: Prohibits state and local governments from classifying any person, ”including inquiring or collecting data” by race, ethnicity, color, or national origin

AMENDMENT DENIED

The Title and Summary

Currently reads: Amends Constitution to prohibit state and local governments from using race, ethnicity, color or national origin,

Requested change: Amends Constitution to prohibit state and local government from “collection and use of data” regarding race, ethnicity, color or national origin

AMENDMENT DENIED

Currently reads: Prohibition also covers persons subject to other operation of government unless Legislature finds…

Requested change: Prohibits “collection and use of data” regarding race, ethnicity, color or national origin…

AMENDMENT DENIED

The Legislative Analyst’s Office Analysis

Currently reads: To collect and use information related to medial research subjects and patients.

Requested change: To collect and use information “about” medical research subjects and patients.

AMENDMENT DENIED

[In addition, the state and local agencies collect a variety of public health information through the use of surveys of the public, which may include race-related information.]

Currently reads: It appears that this activity could continue under the measure’s medical research exception.

Requested change: It appears that these activities could not continue.

AMENDMENT DENIED

Note: The Judge did order one non-substantive change of the word could to “might be allowed to.”

The opposition’s attempt to redefine the intent of the proponents was soundly rejected by the Court. Proposition 54 is not about data, but about the pernicious effects of racial classification on our society.

Opponents of Prop 54 may continue to rest their case on an obsessive attachment to “data”-data that may or may not be of any value-but they have yet to defend the system of racial classifications. They have yet to define just exactly what makes someone black, or Hispanic, or white. They have yet to defend how these monstrously arbitrary categories can dare be used for such important things like allocating health care or education. They have yet to explain why, in a country where all citizens stand equal before the law, government has any compelling reason to even recognize race.

Proposition 54 is a modest step towards a future where an American government has no reason to recognize its citizens as anything other than Americans. Proposition 54 is about racial classifications not data.

-end-

YES ON PROPOSITION 54, THE RACIAL PRIVACY INITIATIVE, P.O. Box 189113, Sacramento, CA 95818, (916) 444-2278/(916) 444-2279 fax

www.racialprivacy.org

[cake_crumb]

"He even said that he thought it was wrong to kick illegals out of public school or off welfare."

He made a vague mention of a possible amnesty program, but gave no details. He sounded as though he hadn't thought about it enough to have come up with a clear plan. He did say he still supports 187.

[RobbyS]

Race should be treated as religion is. If the state wants to find out about the racial-preferences of its citizens, there are plenty of private sources of information. And as for jobs etc, people will be able to distinguish applicants by looking at surnames. Of course Asians should go into court and get their name changed to Brown and Smith, as actor of ethnic origin used to. If pictures are prohibited, lots of interviewers are going to be surprised.

[RobbyS]

Mr. Connerly is such a rational man!

And as such he is a threat to a civil rights leadership that has become corrupt. Even in the time of King there was always that element in the movement that distrusted-- resented-- hated white people, in whose hearts was the desire to get "even."--meaning, "Let them suffer as we have suffered." It is worth noting that the end of segregation became possible only after the last Confederate veteran died. Maybe when people like Jesse Jackson are dead and buried, or do we have wait until his greedy children are buried?

[TheAngryClam]

Except so far as it denies public schooling to illegal aliens. He is utterly in support of that.

I think he said he also supports AB540, the in-state college tuition for illegal aliens.

[ArmstedFragg]

650 KFI out of Sacramento.

KSTE, perhaps? KFI is on 640, out of Los Angeles.

[Mark]

And Jessie Jackson is deeply saddened.

[SauronOfMordor]

It's a good first step, but don't count it a victory yet. There are ways around it, like contracting with a private company (not bound by the legislation) to do the of selecting employees to hire and students to admit, and have THEM ask the questions and compile the data

[Terridan]

You know? There was NEVER a classification for my family!
Irish, Spanish. Only "white"... I always scribbled in,
"Caucasian-American," as hispanics are all Caucasian, as are Aborigines, people from India, etc. I was sick of it and will always write in Caucasian-American! Better yet, like my husband says, leave it all out and just write in American! (As we are becoming a minority in our own country!)

[calvin sun]

I was asked about my "racial background" yesterday. I told them my racial group is "American" period. I would do the same now on a written form as well.

[Imal]

Say NO To Racial Quotas
Say YES To Chocolate

Vote Angelyne
 California's Next Governor
www.angelynegovernor.com

[Alia]

Your response: American -- Me too! :) Those "boxes" just don't the trick; and every time that is brought up to the CA Government? They devise MORE boxes. pshaw! Time to halt it. However, I think there are certain professionals who don't want to have to rethink their ideas and their work on "race". They constitute the opposition to Prop 54.

[Alia]

You are right in re: religion -- who asks? It's a private matter. So should it be with race. Discovered during Prop 209? Many people with Spanish-sounding surnames got in under preferences in re admissions. However, the applicant, for example, was female, and married to a Hispanic. Fair? No. Understandable? Yes, given the nature of those little boxes...

[Alia]

I disagree that Jackson is saddened. He hasn't had a good issue to rail against in a long while -- and he was really losing on Liberia; as it was exposing his involvement with th brutal murdering dictator, Taylor.

[.38sw]

You are correct, my bad. KSTE. I get so confused in my old age.

[zerosix]

At age 55 Arnold still cannot easily define where he comes down on this issue, should read, "Our extensive polling on this issue is still too close to call, so for the time being, I am unable to tell you where I stand on the issue."

[Tamzee]

At age 55 Arnold still cannot easily define where he comes down on this issue,

You must have despised Reagan, also, for re-evaluating his stance on abortion...

[freekitty]

Fantastic. Sounds like some common sense is being used.

[bulldogs]

"I believe it will be better for everybody, including the minorities, in the long run."


Do you mean the white male minority?

[Patriotways]

Justice Breyer: U. S. Constitution should be subordinated to international will
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/941589/posts

[pogo101]

Before I decide whether this is a good post, I'll need to know the writer's race: White, Black, Latino, Other.