The Strange History of a SoCalled Civil Rights Campaign: What You Need to Know About Amendment 46

1
The Strange History of a So-Called Civil
Rights Campaign What You Need to Know About
Amendment 46
2
Amendment 46 Ballot Language

• "The 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."
• Sounds innocuous? Think again!

3
True Intent of Amendment 46

• The elimination of modest, voluntary programs
  that ensure equal opportunity in access to
  education, hiring, and contracting in the public
  sector
• Dont be fooled by the name Colorado Civil
  Rights Initiative or the deceptive ballot
  language!

4
Colorado AAUW opposes 46!

• Why?
• AAUW supports affirmative action programs that
  establish equal opportunity for women and
  minorities and improve gender, racial, and ethnic
  diversity in educational institutions and in
  workplaces.

5
Talking About 46 Messaging Strategies

• Affirmative action is a tainted brand. Use the
  words equal opportunity instead.
• Lead off with a statement like Amendment 46 will
  outlaw modest, voluntary programs that ensure
  equal opportunity in access to education, hiring,
  and contracting in the public sector.

6
Talking About 46 Messaging Strategies

• Follow with startling statistical examples of the
  impact of identical constitutional amendments
  when passed in other states.
• Pick stats that resonate with your audience. Give
  it local feel to have local impact.

7
California Aftermath Department of
Transportation Contracts to Women- and
Minority-Owned Firms

• 27.7 in 1994
• 8.2 in 2002
• Only 36 of women business enterprises certified
  with CALTRANS in 1996 were still in business as
  of September 2007.

8
California AftermathUndergraduate Access to the
University of California for Underrepresented
Minorities

• In 1995
• 21.1 of applicants
• 20.7 of admissions
• 20.8 of enrollments
• In 1998
• 17.5 of applicants
• 15.9 of admissions
• 15.1 of enrollments

9
California AftermathSome Examples of Program
Eliminations

• The California Summer Science and Technology
  Academy
• Registered Nurse Education Program
• Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program
• American Indian Early Childhood Education Program

10
California AftermathMore Program Eliminations

• Elementary and high school level reading programs
  for female and minority students
• Programs helping women and minorities become
  apprentices in the skilled trades
• Higher education funding for female and minority
  health professionals

11
Washington State Aftermath

• Freshman Underrepresented-Minority Enrollments at
  the University of Washington
• 8.9 in 1998
• 5.2 in 2000

12
Washington State Aftermath

• State Construction Contracts to Minority-Owned
  Firms
• 10.8 in 1998
• 3.1 in 2001

13
Washington State Aftermath

• Drastic cuts in skilled-trade apprenticeship
  programs for women and minorities
• Decreased tourism

14
Michigan AftermathUnderrepresented-Minority
Admissions at the University of Michigan School
of Law

• 36 of total applicants in 2006
• 15 of total applicants in 2007

15
Talking About 46 Messaging Strategies

• After giving some shock statistics, move on to
  the motives of the out-of-state agitators who are
  trying to change the Colorado constitution for
  their own benefit.

16
Ward Connerly Leader of the Attack

• Former regent of the University of California
• Paid lobbyist and manager for building-industry
  trade associations
• Chairman of two nonprofits American Civil Rights
  Coalition and American Civil Rights Institute

17
Ward Connerly Who Funds the Leader of the
Attack?

• Ultraconservative foundations and think tanks
  (like the Bradley and Heritage foundations)
  seeking original intent rollback of US
  Constitution to pre-Civil-War status
• Contractors seeking to eliminate women and
  minority businesses from the bidding pool
• Vulture fund capitalists, who buy the debts of
  struggling, third-world companies to turn a
  profit

18
Ward Connerly Leader of the Attack

• From the same folks who brought you TABOR

19
For more info on the ideological and financial
underpinnings of the anti-equal-opportunity
campaign

• Read Lee Cokorinos, The Assault on Diversity An
  Organized Challenge to Racial and Gender Justice,
  Rowman Littlefield Publishers Inc., 2003.
• Available through Amazon, with a portion of your
  purchase going back to AAUW if you order via the
  following link.
• http//aauw.tranguard.com
• (Click on Amazon link on right side of page
  under AAUW logo.)

20
Ward Connerly Leader on the Take

• Since 1998, Connerly has personally become
  financially enriched by contributions to his two
  nonprofits, prompting an IRS investigation at the
  behest of US Reps. Conyers and Rangel, who think
  that Connerly is profiteering.

21
Ward Connerlys Ever-Growing Slice of His
Nonprofits Pies
22
Current Estimate of Connerlys Take

• 7.6 million and counting!
• For more info on Connerlys financial history
• www.bigmoneyconnerly.org

23
Messaging Recap

• Will outlaw modest, voluntary programs to ensure
  equal opportunity in access to education, hiring,
  and contracting in the public sector
• Follow with locally resonant shock stats from
  other states.
• Talk about the motives of Ward Connerly and his
  backers.

24
AAUW Meetings/Issues Forums

• State Colorados AAUW opposition to 46.
• If doing a balanced issues forum with the League
  of Women Voters, etc., then the branch president
  or public policy chair should present AAUWs
  position and rationale on 46 and on any other
  ballot issues for which AAUW has taken a stance.
• If you need any state voter ed info or backup,
  contact Amy Blackwell or Georgina Burns.

25
Colorado UnityCoalition Partners in the 46 Fight

• Can get you materials speakers for meetings and
  events
• Needs help with canvassing, phone banking,
  outreach tabling leafleting, clerical support,
  writing op-eds and letters to the editor, etc.
• Contact Lorena Garcia, chair of grassroots
  committee, ASAP at Lorena_at_9to5.org.
• More info at www.votenoamendment46.com