Arizona's new racial rampage, banning affirmative action

theLoop21.com

It's not enough to target immigrants, now the state goes after all minorities

By: Nadra Kareem TheLoop21 (Add to your loop) Mon, 07/19/2010 - 09:51

Arizona is still making headlines for its controversial stance on undocumented immigrants. Come November, though, the state will be in the news in relation to a ballot initiative that aims to ban affirmative action there. Proposition 107, the brainchild of anti-affirmative action crusader Ward Connerly, will amend the state constitution to prohibit race-based preferences in public employment, education and contracting.
This marks the first time Arizonans will vote on affirmative action. If the initiative passes, a likely outcome given the state’s conservative disposition, you can bet that the percentage of Latinos, Native Americans and blacks in public agencies will plummet, a shame considering that minorities are already woefully underrepresented in these sectors.
Connerly, who’s helped get similar measures passed in California, Michigan and other states, tried to put an anti-affirmative action proposition known as the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative on the 2008 ballot.
The fact that the initiative failed to garner enough signatures from voters ultimately disqualified it from appearing on the ballot. But that didn’t stop Connerly. In 2009, the former University of California regent teamed up with Arizona State Sen. Russell Pearce and Arizona State Rep. Steve Montenegro to sidestep the need for signatures by swaying the State House and Senate to green light it for inclusion on the November 2010 ballot.

Full Story: http://theloop21.com/politics/arizonas-new-racial-rampage-banning-affirmative-action

Picture of Ward Connerly from the Loop 21

Block on affirmative action headed to ballot (Arizona)

East Valley Tribune.com
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 4:51 am

On a 17-11 vote the Senate gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit preferential treatment or discrimination by government on the basis of race or sex. The measure, which already has been approved by the House, now goes on the 2010 ballot.
It will be the first time Arizonans get to vote on the issue. A similar initiative drive in 2008 failed when backers did not get enough signatures.
But Californian Ward Connerly, who helped craft this measure, said that does not mean Arizonans don't want the language in the state constitution.
He said it reflected instead on the difficulties in getting measures on the ballot. And Connerly said the fact that other issues managed to qualify -- and some actually were approved -- is irrelevant.
The measure is aimed at any law, rule or regulation that would give any group preference in public employment, contracting or education. These range from admissions to the state's two publicly funded law schools to the set-aside and bid preferences offered by Tucson for minority-owned businesses.
"It is unconscionable that we are allowing government to discriminate in these areas,'' said Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park. "That's not equal treatment.''
Connerly, who pushed through a similar measure in his home state in 1996, said it "sets the tone that government should not be discriminating against its citizens or granting anyone preferential treatment.''

Full Story: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/140852