University of Arizona Chief Worried About End of Affirmative Action

The Latin American Herald Tribune
By Maria Leon
TUCSON, Arizona
Caracas, Saturday, November 6,2010

The president of the University of Arizona, Robert Shelton, said in an interview with Efe that he is concerned about the effects a newly approved state law will have that puts an end to affirmative action programs.Last Tuesday close to 60 percent of Arizona voters approved Proposition 107 that ends programs favoring women and minority groups in state-funded universities and community colleges.“Proposition 107 is a symbol of the big changes universities face at this time of difficult politics in the state,” Shelton, whose institution had expected the approval and worked to deal with its impact, told Efe. He said that his institution will comply with the new statute, but added that he feels “frustrated” by the false ideas surrounding it.

Full Story: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=376015&CategoryId=12395

Arizona's negative on affirmative action

guardian.co.uk
Tamara Winfrey Harris
guardian.co.uk
Friday 5 November 2010 17.00 GMT

On Tuesday, Arizona voters were given the chance to vote on Proposition 107, which prohibits "the state from giving preferential treatment to or discriminating against any person or group on the basis of race, sex, colour, ethnicity or national origin". The measure passed with 59% of the vote, effectively banning affirmative action in the state.
Proposition 107 supporters, including Republican representative Steve Montenegro, who sponsored the measure to amend the Arizona constitution, have invoked civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr's dream that "little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character" and twisted that into a plea for "colour-blindness" rather than equality. Affirmative action, which began in the United States in 1965, is a policy designed to mitigate historic and present discrimination and institutional racism and sexism.
A 1996 essay in the Journal for Social Issues noted that in a society where whiteness remains the baseline and the preference – consciously or subconsciously – people of colour are at a disadvantage:

Full Story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/nov/05/arizona-affirmative-action

American Association for Affirmative Action Statement on the Passage of Arizona’s Proposition 107 to End Affirmative Action Programs

American Association for Affirmative Action
Statement on the Passage of Arizona’s Proposition 107 to End Affirmative Action Programs

Association of diversity and civil rights professionals denounces the passage of Arizona’s Anti-Affirmative Action Initiative

For Immediate Release: November 4, 2010
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher (617) 298-4156

We, members of the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), regret that the people of the Great State of Arizona chose to limit the opportunities of those who have suffered discrimination by virtue of their race, gender, ethnicity, national origin and color. Proposition 107 purports to bar discrimination and so-called preferences, but laws against discrimination have existed since 1964. Federal laws and regulations prohibit quotas and other forms of preferential treatment. So, why was this initiative necessary? Because the sponsors of this unfortunate legislation misrepresented affirmative action and equal opportunity programs as denying opportunities for some, when these laws are intended to level the playing field that has been uneven for centuries. Affirmative action programs prevent discrimination and remove barriers against those for whom the doors of opportunity have been closed.
This nation will not be as great as it can be if those who have the talent and qualifications find their opportunities limited by race, gender, ethnicity, national origin or color. While much progress has been made since 1964 the glass ceiling still exists, unemployment rates for minorities exceed those of non-minorities and charges of discrimination filed with civil rights agencies number in the thousands. As President Lyndon Baines Johnson said, “It is not enough just to open the gates of opportunity. All our citizens must have the ability to walk through those gates.”
The people of Arizona have spoken. Perhaps one day they will comprehend the true impact of their decision. Limiting the opportunities of some will ultimately affect us all.



Gregory T. Chambers
President

Is Affirmative Action Still So Necessary?

The Atlanta Post
November 03, 2010 07:22 AM

By Brittany Hutson

The topic of affirmative action has become somewhat taboo. Opponents argue that instead of moving past discussions of inequality and race, affirmative action in fact encourages discrimination in an era –depending on who you ask—that is deemed post-racial. But if you ask Shirley J. Wilcher, affirmative action is just as needed today as it was when President John Kennedy signed the policy into effect in 1961.
Wilcher, director of the American Association for Affirmative Action, a professional organization based in Washington, D.C. with 1,000 members, said in a recent interview with America’s Wire, a proponent of the Maynard Media Center of Structural Racism, that “there have been attacks on affirmative action so much that people are even afraid to use the term anymore.”

Full Story: http://atlantapost.com/2010/11/03/is-affirmative-action-still-so-neccessary/

Arizona Bans Affirmative Action

San Fernando Valley Sun
Wednesday, 03 November 2010

Based on information drawn from the Arizona Daily Star

Voters in Arizona on Tuesday approved Proposition 107 banning the consideration of race, ethnicity or gender by units of state government, including public colleges and universities. With 2,075 of 2,239 precincts reporting as of early Wednesday morning, the measure had just under 60 percent support in unofficial state results.
Arizona joins California, Michigan, Nebraska and Washington State in imposing such bans. Only Colorado rejected a similar ban in a statewide vote. In the states of California and Michigan, the bans led to sharp drops in the admission and enrollment of black and Latino students at flagship universities, although those institutions have made progress since the initial votes in diversifying their student bodies through race-neutral methods. In those states, however, undergraduate admission to the state universities is highly competitive.

Full Story: http://www.sanfernandosun.com/sanfernsun/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5962&Itemid=2

American Association for Affirmative Action Opposes Arizona’s Proposition 107 to End Affirmative Action Programs

AAAA News Release
For Immediate Release: October 29, 2010
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher (240) 893-9475

Association of diversity and civil rights professionals urges Arizona voters to vote “No”

Washington, DC, October 29, 2010 - The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an association of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals founded in 1974, calls upon Arizona voters to reject Proposition 107, whose intention is to end state affirmative action programs. On Election Day, the electorate will vote on the so-called Arizona Civil Rights Initiative, which will amend Article II of the state constitution. The language of the Initiative is:

“Discrimination or preferential treatment prohibited
Section 36. This state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting.”

This is a creature of Ward Connerly, the former University of California Regent who spearheaded Proposition 209 that ended affirmative action in the state. A form of Proposition 209 was passed in Washington State, Michigan and Nebraska.

AAAA President Gregory T. Chambers stated: “Proposition 107, along with others sponsored by Ward Connerly and the American Civil Rights Institute, have only one purpose: to end the advances made by women and minorities in employment, education and contracting.” Affirmative action laws were added as a means of promoting equal opportunity and remedying the effects of discrimination. “Affirmative action is necessary and fair, prevents discrimination and gives everyone an opportunity to compete regardless of race, ability or gender” added Mr. Chambers. “It minimizes the preferences that some have enjoyed for centuries.”

Discrimination is grounded in prejudice resulting in unjust exclusion of qualified individuals in the workplace, academe and government contracting. There is a well-established history of discrimination against Asians and Hispanics as well as African Americans, women and individuals with disabilities. As demographic changes increase the numbers of those individuals in the USA, it is important to ensure that they have the opportunity and preparation to take their rightful place among today’s and tomorrow’s leaders. Forty-five years is too soon to end a program that promotes diversity and redresses years of exclusion.

AAAA urges Ward Connerly and interested voters to visit the website (www.affirmativeaction.org) and contact the leadership if they have questions about affirmative action, how it works and what it is intended to accomplish. “If you are truly concerned about equal opportunity for all, have a dialogue with us in order to be properly informed about affirmative action law and policy,” said Mr. Chambers.

###

Perspectives: Affirmative Action May be Needed — for Men

Diverse Issues in Higher Education


by Shirley J. Wilcher , November 1, 2010



When the Arizona Republic announced its support for the anti-affirmative action Proposition 107 last week, it declared in its opinion editorial headline: “Affirmative Action is No Longer Needed.” On Election Day, voters in Arizona will vote on Proposition 107, the so-called Arizona Civil Rights Initiative, which will amend Article II of the state constitution. The language of the initiative reads, in part:

“This state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting.”

This is a creature of Ward Connerly, the former University of California Regent who spearheaded Proposition 209 that ended affirmative action in that state. Similar anti-affirmative action initiatives were passed in Washington State, Michigan and Nebraska.





Full Story: http://diverseeducation.com/article/14342/

Affirmative action no longer needed

The Arizona Republic
Oct. 26, 2010 12:00 AM

Affirmative action wasn't meant to be a perpetual-motion machine. The policy served an important purpose, making up for missing opportunities in education and the workplace. But over time, the drawbacks have come to outweigh the advantages.
Voters should pull the plug. They should approve Proposition 107, which would amend the Arizona Constitution to ban affirmative-action programs in public employment, public education or public contracting.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2010/10/26/20101026tue2-26.html#ixzz13bRjQZQM

Panel denounces anti-affirmative action initiative

Statepress.com
By Matt Hendley
August 31, 2010 at 11:01 pm

A panel of community leaders assembled Tuesday night to criticize a ballot proposition that would end affirmative action programs in Arizona.
The forum, which took place at the Memorial Union on the Tempe campus, was hosted by the ASU National Pan-Hellenic Council, an organization of historically African-American fraternities and sororities.
The measure to be featured on the November ballot states that Arizona “shall not grant preferential treatment to or discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting.”
Panelist Michael Wong, the vice president of policy for the Undergraduate Student Government, said if Proposition 107 were to pass, it would reinforce inequality at ASU.

Full Story: http://www.statepress.com/2010/08/31/panel-denounces-anti-affirmative-action-initiative/

High Court Poised To Closely Weigh Civil Rights Laws

The Washington Post
Cases Heard as Nation Debates Race

By Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Supreme Court has an opportunity to reaffirm or reshape the nation's civil rights laws as it faces a rare confluence of cases over the next two weeks, including a high-profile challenge brought by white firefighters who claim they lost out on promotions because of the "color of their skin."
The cases also touch on the Voting Rights Act, the need to provide English classes for immigrant children and, more tangentially, discriminatory mortgage lending.
The most emotionally charged case is from the New Haven, Conn., firefighters, whose complaints define the real-life quandary that sometimes accompanies government efforts to ensure racial equality.
The firefighters accuse city officials of violating civil rights laws and the Constitution by throwing out a promotions test on which they performed well but no blacks scored high enough to be eligible. The city responds that relying on test results with such wide racial discrepancies could have violated federal law and left them open to being sued by minorities.
The court will hear the arguments, along with the others, in the midst of an evolving national conversation about the role of race and diversity and in the wake of the historic presidential election.

Full Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/18/AR2009041802203_pf.html

Administration Issues Civil Rights Guidance on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Peter Orszag, issued preliminary guidance on the federal agencies' use of funds appropriated under the recently-passed stimulus bill. The guidance, issued on February 18, 2009, includes language that emphasizes the importance of federal agency compliance with existing equal opportunity statutes, regulations and executive orders:

1.6 What additional responsibilities exist for Executive Branch agencies?

The Executive Branch shall distribute Recovery Act funds in accordance with:
"All anti-discrimination and equal opportunity statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders that apply to the expenditure of funds under Federal contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and other forms of Federal assistance. Grant-making agencies shall ensure that their recipients comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and any program-specific statutes with anti-discrimination requirements. Generally applicable civil rights laws also continue to apply, including (but not limited to) the Fair Housing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Uniform Relocation Act.

To review the entire OMB guidance, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/memoranda_fy2009/m09-10.pdf

OFCCP Launches Website for G-Five Initiative; Announces Five Recipients of Award

OFCCP News Release:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today announced the selection of five federal contractor establishments as the first recipients of the Good Faith Initiative for Veterans Employment (G-FIVE) program.

“The G-FIVE was created to address the employment challenges facing the veteran workforce today by recognizing federal contractors for their efforts in employing and advancing covered veterans,” said Charles E. James Sr., deputy assistant secretary for OFCCP. “It reaffirms OFCCP’s commitment to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act and creates an excellent incentive for federal contractors to hire veterans.”

“The G-FIVE also strengthens partnerships between OFCCP and veterans groups and other agencies,” added Victoria Lipnic, assistant secretary for the Labor Department’s Employment Standards Administration. “It’s an OFCCP initiative that supports America’s heroes.”

The five federal contractor establishments selected for 2008 are:

· Computing Technologies Inc. -- Fairfax, Va.
· Wackenhut Services Inc. -- Savannah River Site, Aiken, S.C.
· Engineering Systems Solutions -- Frederick, Md.
· Alaska Airlines -- Seattle, Wash.
· Hawaiian Electric Co.-- Honolulu, Hawaii

All of these establishments demonstrated “best practices” for the employment and advancement of veterans, and will be excluded from an OFCCP compliance evaluation for three years.

The directive outlining this new initiative, along with frequently asked questions, are available on OFCCP’s Web site at http://www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp/regs/compliance/directives/dir282.pdf and http://www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp/regs/compliance/faqs/dir282faqs.htm.

OFCCP's new G-Five Initiative website can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp/g_five.htm

Affirmative-action debate continues

Center for Economic Opportunity reports law school entry is easier for minorities
www.azstarnet.com

PHOENIX — A new study today by an organization opposed to affirmative action concludes minorities are more likely to be admitted to the state's two public law schools than similarly qualified Anglos.
The report by the Center for Economic Opportunity shows the number of Anglos, Asians, Hispanics and blacks admitted to the law colleges at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona is pretty much in proportion to the number that apply.
But it also finds both schools admit minorities with lower grade-point averages and scores on the Law School Aptitude Test than Anglos.
According to the report, at UA the median LSAT score for black students admitted in 2007 was 15 percent below whites; for Hispanics, the difference was 10 percent. At ASU, median scores for blacks were 8.3 percent below whites; there was a 6.7 percent difference between Hispanics and Anglos.
The report says incoming Anglo and Asian students had a 3.6 grade-point average in 2007, compared with 3.5 for Hispanics and 3.4 for blacks. At ASU the average white GPA was 3.7, compared with 3.4 for black and Hispanic students.
The result, according to Roger Clegg, the organization's president, is black and Hispanic applicants with equal GPA and LSAT scores are significantly more likely to be admitted to the UA law school than white students. He said the imbalance is far greater at ASU.
Neither school has denied using race or ethnicity as a factor in determining who gets the limited number of slots available each year. In fact, top officials of both schools acknowledged they consider such factors necessary to promote diversity.
And Clegg conceded that, while the U.S. Supreme Court has outlawed quotas in choosing students, the high court said achieving diversity goals by looking at factors like race and ethnicity is permitted.
That, however, could change — at least in Arizona.
Clegg's organization originally started the study in support of a ballot proposition being pushed by millionaire California entrepreneur Ward Connerly to outlaw affirmative-action programs not only in public education but also in employment and contracting. [To read the entire story, go to: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/260220 ]

BAMN Declares Total Victory in Arizona

BAMN Declares Total Victory in Arizona
Ward Connerly's "Ground Zero" Campaign Against
Affirmative Action Turns to Quicksand
"Super Tuesday" Becomes "Super Lose Day" for the enemies of civil rights

Late Friday afternoon, the campaign manager for the deceptively named "Arizona Civil Rights Initiative" (ACRI) – a state ban on affirmative action – announced that ACRI was dropping their challenge to the finding of the Arizona Secretary of State that ACRI did not have enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. "BAMN's fraud-blockers prevented Connerly from obtaining petition signatures by lying to qualified voters about the aim and effect of the initiative, so he was forced to resort to outright forgery and fraud" said Shanta Driver, National Chairperson of BAMN, and chief strategist of BAMN's campaign to stop ACRI. "BAMN's campaign in Arizona shows that any reactionary initiative, no matter how well funded, can be stopped by a small group of determined people who stand on principle, tell the truth and won't be moved," she added. "In Michigan, Ward Connerly and Jennifer Gratz's operation was found to be riddled with fraud by a U.S. Federal Judge. In Oklahoma, they withdrew their petitions in the face of accusations of fraud, because they knew they couldn't withstand a challenge. In Missouri, they dared not even risk a challenge by filing their petitions. Now in Arizona, home of John McCain, over 40% of their signatures were found to be invalid. These con artists should not be allowed to peddle their lies and deception in any state of the nation." said George Washington, the attorney representing BAMN in its lawsuit against ACRI.

For more information about how BAMN defeated Connerly in three states in 2008, contact:

Shanta Driver 313-407-4865
George Washington 313-963-1921
Donna Stern 313-468-3398

Quick Takes: Another Win for Affirmative Action

Inside Higher Ed
August 22, 2008

Arizona’s secretary of state, Jan Brewer, on Thursday disqualified from the state’s November ballot a measure that would have barred public colleges and universities and other state agencies from considering race and ethnicity in admissions, scholarship and hiring decisions, The Arizona Republic reported. Brewer ruled that too many of the signatures on petitions to place the measure on the ballot were invalid, and that the remainder did not reach the minimum level. Supporters will now try to show that some of the rejected signatures should be permitted. But defenders of affirmative action say that may be difficult. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund released a statement Thursday night saying that signatures submitted on behalf of the measure were full of errors — included one signature alleged to be from the late President Ford and one from the Libyan leader Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi, with Saudi Arabia listed as his street address and Tibet as his city of residence. If the measure stays off the ballot, only two states — Colorado and Nebraska — will vote on abolishing affirmative action in November, down from five in which organizers originally planned to make their case. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/08/22/qt

Affirmative-action initiative fails to make ballot

by Matthew Benson and Glen Creno - Aug. 22, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

An initiative that would amend the Arizona Constitution to ban affirmative-action programs in the state was disqualified from the ballot Thursday by Secretary of State Jan Brewer.
Proposition 104, known as the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative, becomes the third measure this year to be booted from the ballot because of failure to submit enough valid signatures to the state. Prop. 104 proponents vowed to appeal, probably early next week.
In other action Thursday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Mark Aceto dealt a setback to supporters of a proposed transportation initiative as he refused to restore the measure to the ballot. Supporters of the TIME initiative, dealing with signature problems similar to the civil-rights measure, now plan to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

The Arizona Civil Rights Initiative initially submitted 334,735 signatures to the state. But following petition reviews by the Secretary of State's Office and the state's 15 county recorders, that number was whittled down to 194,961 valid signatures. That's short of the 230,047 required for a Constitutional amendment.

The proposal is spearheaded by California businessman Ward Connerly and modeled after propositions in California and other states. In Arizona, the measure would ban preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education and contracts.

The initiative was drawn into the national spotlight in July when Arizona Sen. John McCain, the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, said he was supportive. A decade earlier, McCain in speaking to Hispanic leaders condemned as "divisive" a ballot measure proposed by an Arizona lawmaker to ban affirmative action, though he never cited the referendum by name.
Now, Arizona Civil Rights Initiative Chairman Max McPhail is hopeful that a careful re-examination of the signatures initially deemed invalid may result in enough being overturned to qualify the measure for the ballot. [To read the entire story, go to: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/08/22/20080822affirmative0822.html ]

BAMN Exposes Methods of ACRI election fraud

Press Release
BAMN Exposes Methods of ACRI election fraud
August 18, 2008

Please read the LETTER and EXHIBITS sent by BAMN to the Arizona Secretary of State and Maricopa County Recorders offices detailing the ways that fraud permeated the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative’s (ACRI) signature gathering process. BAMN’s efforts on the streets of Arizona resulted in educating voters on the true character of the ACRI, so that they would not be duped into signing the ACRI petition. The number of valid signatures that the ACRI collected is well below what they would need for it to qualify for the ballot. "From our investigation and that of others, it is clear that the ACRI has failed to receive the requisite number of petitions needed to obtain ballot status," said Shanta Driver, Chairperson of the BAMN Committee to Stop ACRI. “BAMN’s aim now is to work to assure that the Arizona Secretary of State, Governor Napolitano, and Attorney General Goddard use all of the powers vested in them to stop this fraud from going forward. The best way to send a message to all well-funded fraudulent petition efforts that you cannot cynically buy your way onto the ballot in AZ and prey on the voters of this state is to keep ACRI from reaching the ballot.”
The preliminary evidence submitted by BAMN today to the Secretary of State and the Maricopa county Recorder’s office includes signed and notarized affidavits from circulators, a list of some circulators names that match the names of convicted felons in the state of Arizona, a series of alterations of the petitions that invalidates the signatures, documentation of the racially targeted voter fraud and a host of other election violations.
BAMN is conducting an ongoing investigation of the fraud utilized by the ACRI’s chief sponsor, Ward Connerly, to obtain ballot status. BAMN plans to launch an interactive website so that voters who were deceived into signing the ACRI can help document the racially-targeted voter fraud. BAMN is calling on the Governor and Attorney General to take action because the Maricopa County prosecutor, Andrew Thomas is the honorary chair of the ACRI.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON BAMN’S CHALLENGE TO THE ARIZONA CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE CALL: BAMN 313-468-3398
• BAMN Letter to the Arizona Secretary of State and Maricopa County Recorders offices• Exhibits www.bamn.com

Ariz. affirmative action ban foes file challenge

The Tucson Citizen
The Associated Press
Published: 08.18.2008

PHOENIX — Alleging fraud by petition circulators and other improprieties, opponents of a ballot measure to generally bar racial and gender preferences by the state government asked a court Monday to keep the initiative off the November ballot.
Protect Arizona's Freedom on Monday filed a lawsuit challenging about a third of the more than 300,000 petition signatures filed to qualify Proposition 104 for the ballot. Opponents say the signatures are ineligible for reasons other than the voter registration status of individuals who signed those petitions.
Disqualifying that many signatures would keep the measure off the ballot, said state Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, a Phoenix Democrat who heads Protect Arizona's Freedom.
Violations included petitions circulated by felons whose civil rights hadn't been restored, petitions circulated by ineligible individuals who misrepresented their identities or addresses, and petition sheets not properly notarized, according to the lawsuit filed in Maricopa County Superior Court on behalf of two university students.
The proposed state constitutional amendment aimed at dismantling preferential treatment programs for women and minorities, the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative, is championed by Ward Connerly.
The former California education official has succeeded in winning approval of similar measures in that state as well in Washington and Michigan and is also proposing versions this year in Colorado and Nebraska.
A spokesman for Secretary of State Jan Brewer did not immediately return a call for comment on the status of the state's review of the petitions submitted to qualify Proposition 104 for the ballot.
However, Sinema indicated she anticipated that elections officials' checks of a random sample of petitions would find a lack of enough valid signatures to qualify Proposition 104 for the ballot. She said she hoped her group's lawsuit would persuade supporters of the measure to abandon their efforts.
"This lawsuit is a message to Ward Connerly," Sinema said, adding that Arizonans won't tolerate cheating. [To read the entire story, go to: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/94124.php ]

Coalition Files Legal Challenge, Puts Connerly on Notice as SOS Results Released

Photos of volunteers at work available!!!For Immediate Release: August 18, 2008
For More Information:
Kyrsten Sinema, Chair
602.570.7217
Sarah Luna, Communications Manager
480.205.3809

Coalition Files Legal Challenge, Puts Connerly on Notice as SOS Results Released
Credits Massive Volunteer Effort for Gathering Evidence to Stop Connerly


(Phoenix) At a Press Conference outside the office of the Arizona Secretary of State, Protect Arizona’s Freedom today announced its legal challenge to the validity of over 100,000 signatures based on evidence of 13 categories of fraudulent and illegal signature-gathering tactics compiled by a massive statewide volunteer effort. The PAF signatures challenged by the PAF complaint are separate from those expected to be invalidated by the AZ Secretary of State based exclusively on voter registration.

“The fraudulent and deceptive signature-gathering tactics brought into Arizona by Connerly have had a far-reaching impact on the ballot process generally in our state and a number of propositions have been tossed,” said PAF Chair Kyrsten Sinema. “We’ve been talking for months about Connerly and the underhanded tactics used by the Georgia National Ballot Access firm in state after state so it comes as no big surprise.”

Over the past couple of weeks close to 1,000 volunteers sat side-by-side, day after day, 24-7, in their ‘war room’ in downtown Phoenix reviewing petitions for the so-called Arizona Civil Rights Initiative. Boxes of petitions flanked Sinema and the plaintiffs by her side at the press conference to underscore the monumental task undertaken by volunteers.
“Once citizens understood the impact of the Connerly Initiative on valued Arizona programs and the tactics used by outsiders to push it on us a groundswell of opposition developed with people eager to help. We file this complaint today with the strength of our coalition and the evidence compiled and confidently serve notice on Mr. Connerly that if he chooses to continue his efforts, he will lose,” Sinema concluded.

3 States to Consider Affirmative Action Ban

Diverse Issues in Higher Education
by Associated Press
Aug 6, 2008, 18:38

PHOENIX
With one brief criticism of affirmative action, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has brought new attention to ballot issues aimed at dismantling preferential treatment programs for women and minorities.
The question is whether McCain's support for one of those initiatives, in his home state Arizona, will make any difference.
Ward Connerly, the former University of California regent who is bankrolling the Arizona initiative and similar measures in Nebraska and Colorado, said he hasn't seen any increase in donations or Republican supporters flocking to his cause since McCain spoke up last month.
"We're of course delighted to have the senator's support," Connerly said. "As to whether it translates to any positive or negative effect on us, I don't think so."
McCain's comments also have drawn critics who pointed to comments he made a decade ago calling similar measures "divisive."
The ballot initiatives in Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska call for amending the state constitutions to ban any hiring practices, university scholarships and other public programs that favor one group over others. Arizona and Nebraska officials are still verifying petition signatures while Colorado has the initiative slated for the November ballot.
Connerly's group, the American Civil Rights Initiative, already has been successful with similar initiatives in California, Washington and Michigan. And he plans to continue four years from now in other states.
Ultimately, Connerly said, "the goal is to try to get either the Supreme Court or the Congress to get the policy changed at the national level."
Connerly said his ballot initiatives would attack programs like the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise Program in Tucson. It allows minority and women-owned businesses to bid more for city contracts than other groups and requires prime contractors to make a serious effort to hire them for work.
"Those clearly would be outlawed," Connerly said of the Tucson program. "Any standards that are applied to groups based on race. Any jobs where there are different standards for admissions." [To read the entire story, go to: http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11530.shtml ]