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

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The dims lose another round. Good.

[goldstategop]

The libs can't even defend their cherished South Africa style apartheid racial classification system since they know its morally indefensible. So they're trying to avoid discussing the issue and that my friends is exactly why they deserve and will lose BIG TIME. Bump for Ward Connerly and Prop. 54!

[tubebender]

BUMP...

[umgud]

I really hope this passes. There will be a lot of screaming, but I believe it will be better for everybody, including the minorities, in the long run.

[concerned about politics]

If this passes, it could end the race baiting the Democrats are so famous for. If people can't be divided and pushed into an internal war, the Democrats can't come in as saviors to fix what they themselves have created.

[ambrose]

The libs can't even defend their cherished South Africa style apartheid racial classification system since they know its morally indefensible. So they're trying to avoid discussing the issue and that my friends is exactly why they deserve and will lose BIG TIME. Bump for Ward Connerly and Prop. 54!

Why won't Ahnold support it? Will he defend the initiative if challenged in court, or will he do what Gray Davis did with 187, and drop all appeals?

[Tamzee]

Arnold stated that he wanted to study 54 further and wasn't taking a position on it yet either for OR against.

He DID vote for and publicly support Prop 187, so no, he wouldn't be likely to sandbag a measure he pushed for, would he? He also opposes drivers licenses for illegals.

[Saundra Duffy]

Ward Connerly will be in Porterville on Thurs., Sept 11, for a dinner. $25.00 - For more info call 559-781-3858. Lager and I are planning to attend.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

PROP. 54 BUMP!

[jokar]

PROP. 54 BUMP!

[pabianice]

What's the point? 54 will pass by a wide margin and then be struck-down by the O'Connor SCOTUS.

[Alia]

Dear Pabianice -- Wasn't it Ben Franklin who said: You've got a Republic -- if you can defend it?

I've never believed in anything so "easy" as a magic pill. I was smack dab right in the heartland, San Francisco, when the whole free-love, tune-in, drop-out, take a toke - agenda was launched. I've seen the entire scope and result of the "magic pill" mentality -- and I reject it, thoroughly.

That's right -- when 54 passes -- it will more than likely be challenged. And we shall fight them to maintain the dignity and purpose of the vote, and to again assert, this country is about "we, the people".

[Alia]

Thank you! I haven't been in fr for a bit - does BUMP equate to a "high-five", pls?

[pabianice]

Woman (in street outside constitutional convention): "And what have you given us, Dr. Franklin?"

Ben Franklin: "A republic, madam, if you can keep it."

[Alia]

Dear Saundra Duffy -- I hope you will continue to repeat this post (Announcements) -- about Ward Connerly in Porterville, and the data -- Ward is a phenomenal speaker. And guess what else? He's the same person on stage as he is in private. He's himself. And please -- I could get my map out -- but is Porterville near Sacto?

[.38sw]

Cool. I was just listening to Ward Connerly on 650 KFI out of Sacramento. It's a rebroadcast of the Armstrong and Getty show. Mr. Connerly is such a rational man!

[Alia]

Dear concerned about politics -- I concur with your assessment. However, it would also leave them without their usual "political tool" to hide their true agenda -- hate Republicans. IMHO, passage of Prop 54 might backhandedly challenge the Democrats to get back on the messages they had many years ago -- when they really were caring and compassionate and "for the little people". Right now -- these aren't the Dems of my parent and grandparents' generations -- Dem party has been hijacked by socialists, writ large. Dems really do need to come up with a cleaner, better platform -- why? Because if and when they do -- it means everyone has to think harder, be more cleanly productive, and.. as a country, we can move forward into a far better century.

[Alia]

Dear .38sw -- I heard it too. And I was very impressed by the Armstrong and Getty style. I'm listening more often. They let Ward speak, and in a non-pressured, non intense way. Really pleasant to listen to.

[TheAngryClam]

Yeah, but he no longer supports 187.

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

"It's for the children," you know.