November 27, 2024

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The Anti-Affirmative-Action Ballot Proposal Questions & Answers

Rina Risper04 mins

What does this amendment say – and what will it do?
The amendment says it will block “preferential treatment” based on race, gender or national origin. What it really does is end opportunities for women and minorities to have equal access to education, jobs and contracts in Michigan. It will immediately end all state and local policies that promote equal opportunity.

Who is pushing this proposal?
The proposal comes from California, where a handful of millionaires have bankrolled Ward Connerly, a California businessman who made $1.1 million in 2003 pushing anti-affirmative action activities throughout the country. His organization paid circulators in Michigan to obtain petitions by misleading people into thinking they were supporting affirmative action.

What will happen if this proposal passes?
All state and local affirmative action and outreach programs will be immediately eliminated. That means:

  • No outreach programs to encourage minorities and women to enter key fields, such as police, firefighting and engineering, or to attend college.
  • No programs to encourage women and minorities to stay in school and prepare for good-paying jobs in engineering, science or even construction and law enforcement.
  • No programs to encourage men to become teachers or nurses, where they are under-represented.
  • No affirmative action goals for contracting or hiring in state and local governments.
  • It means Michigan will go back to the 1950s and 1960s, when racism was prevalent and women had few rights or opportunities.

    • When will voters see this proposal?
    The proposal will be on the November 2006 ballot.

    Who is opposing the California Amendment?

  • Republicans, Democrats, civil rights groups, business, labor, social, youth, religious and women’s organizations among many others. Michigan is coming together to oppose the effort by California millionaires to roll back policies promoting equal opportunity.
  • Learn all you can. Visit www.oneunitedmichigan.org for more information. Don’t be fooled by the California Amendment’s deceptive words.
  • Talk to your friends and relatives.
  • Email and write your friends.
  • Contact local organizations you belong to.
  • Get resolutions from local governments.
  • Write your local newspaper.
  • Call your lawmakers.
  • Volunteer

    • What can you do to stop the California Amendment that ends affirmative action?

    Make sure everyone knows what the California Amendment is really all about. Some will call it the “Michigan Civil Rights Amendment.” It’s not civil and it’s not right!

    For more information contact One United Michigan, P.O. Box 81156
    Lansing Michigan 48908
    Phone: 517-482-1438.
    Email: contact us@oneunitedmichigan.org

     

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