AzCRI Opponents Believed to have Engaged in Signature Sabotage Effort Reward offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved
Based on preliminary investigations, the American Civil Rights Coalition (ACRC) believes that a systematic, deceptive effort, led by the group By Any Means Necessary, was attempted to sabotage Civil Rights Initiative campaigns. Jennifer Gratz, ACRC’s Director of State and Local Initiatives, stated, “BAMN is a radical, thug organization that has proven time and time again that they are willing to live up to their name and use ‘any means necessary’ to stop voters from deciding if race and gender preferences policies should be legal.”
ACRC has announced a $10,000 reward to anyone who brings forward information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone who engaged in such efforts in the state of Arizona.
My Preferences John McCain, Barack Obama, and civil rights today.
By WARD CONNERLY
August 1st, 2008
One thing I have learned from more than 13 years of fighting for equal treatment for every American regardless of race, sex, color, or ethnicity is that politicians can triangulate more about this issue than almost any other — and get away with it. A few days ago, Sen. John McCain gave his support to our effort in Arizona to prohibit preferences through a constitutional amendment. In explaining his reason for doing so, McCain said, “I have always opposed quotas.” Instantly, Sen. Barack Obama pounced.
With all my heart – and for the betterment of my country – I desperately wanted to believe that Sen. Barack Obama was not one of the same tired voices who peddle arguments about "institutional racism."
I have heard him say that America is not about "black and white." I was inspired when his supporters chanted at his rally on the night of his victory in South Carolina that "race doesn't matter." I thought his March 18 speech about race had the potential to become a defining moment in our endless struggle to confront and conquer this issue. I was encouraged by his perceptive acknowledgment that affirmative action breeds resentment and hostility. As millions of whites cast their votes for him in predominantly white states, I held out hope that, perhaps, he truly was a transformative leader.
By HENRY J. WATERS III
Publisher, Columbia Daily Tribune
Friday, April 4, 2008
Ward Connerly, the black former University of California regent, is promoting an initiative that would outlaw affirmative action in Missouri. His supporters are circulating petitions and, he says, have an "excellent chance" of getting a proposed law on the November ballot that would outlaw racial quotas in public contracts, higher education and jobs.
He already has been successful in California, Washington and Michigan and has campaigns going to put the issue on November ballots in four other states, including Missouri.
For Immediate Release
March 18, 2008
Contact: Jennifer Gratz; 916-444-2278
Today Judge Lawson dismissed all claims against the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative and ruled that the Initiative is constitutional. Jennifer Gratz, who was the executive director of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative and is now with the American Civil Rights Institute said, “Despite numerous attempts to thwart the will of the voters by the radical group, By Any Means Necessary, and their allies, the people of Michigan will finally have their voices heard. Fairness and equality are now unequivocally Michigan law.”
Fairness On the Ballot
By George F. Will
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Washington Post
Come November, voters will decide on more than half a million federal, state and local officeholders and ballot initiatives. Ninety-nine percent of these decisions will matter less than will the five civil rights initiatives that might be on the ballots in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.
If the initiatives qualify for those states' ballots, all probably will pass. But the initiatives must surmount ferocious opposition from defenders of racial preferences, such as the politicians who administer and benefit from Missouri's racial spoils system. The crux of the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative (MoCRI) would amend that state's constitution to say: "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."
The phrase "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," is a constant that, while often employed as a quasi-jocular euphemism, is an axiom of unequivocal truth. None today are more aware of this than the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; the former president of the University of Michigan, Lee Bollinger, and those who equate the color of one's skin as being synonymous with meritocracy.
Jennifer Gratz was a woman scorned, but instead of curling up in a fetal position and crying boo-hoo, she epitomized the maxim that "one person can indeed make a difference." In the process, she has made those who attempted to disqualify her academic accomplishment in favor of race-preferences rue the day they did.
Despite losing court challenge after court challenge, opponents of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) continue to accuse MCRI’s workers and volunteers of “widespread and systematic racially-targeted fraud” to gather enough signatures to put the measure on the 2006 ballot. Though these charges have never been substantiated, they are accepted carte blanche by many officials who should be objective and deal with facts, but instead are driven by personal political motives. Even judges who have ruled time after time in favor of MCRI lower their brows and give lip service to “disturbing allegations,” yet have no evidence to cite. From the courtroom to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to the Board of Canvassers, MCRI prevails despite undisguised, calcified biases against it by these persons who have sworn oaths to protect everyone’s rights. The media then lead with the part of the MCRI story that is least substantiated--the politically motivated mantra--but never demand proof. “Alleged” does not mean “true.”
For Immediate Release
Thursday – June 27, 2007
Contact: Jennifer Bollenbach ph: (916) 261-3612
Supreme Court Decision Spurs Optimism
Today, Ward Connerly, of the American Civil Rights Institute, declared the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Seattle and Louisville school district racial preference scheme as a "glorious victory."
In the cases Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education and Parents Involved in Community Schools (PICS) v. Seattle School District a majority of justices voted to again limit the use of race preferences in American life, with 4 of the justices advocating for a total elimination of race as a factor in public institutions.
Arizona Civil Rights Initiative Coming to 2008 Ballot
For Immediate Release Thursday – April 26, 2007
Contact: Jennifer Gratz at (916) 444-2278
Plans for Anti-Preferences Campaign Announced
Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Civil Rights Initiative is forging ahead with plans for a November, 2008 ballot measure banning government-sponsored race and gender preferences in the state. The Arizona Civil Rights Initiative will be part of a ‘Super Tuesday for Equal Rights’ campaign that will offer citizens of several states the chance to end such practices in public employment, public education, and public contracting. Similar measures have already passed in three other states, all by overwhelming margins.
Missouri Civil Rights Initiative Launches Anti-Preferences Campaign
For Immediate Release
Tuesday – April 24, 2007
Contact: Tim Asher (816) 812-4929
The Missouri Civil Rights Initiative is forging ahead with plans for a November, 2008 ballot measure banning government-sponsored race and gender preferences in the state. The Missouri Civil Rights Initiative will be part of a 'Super Tuesday' campaign that will offer citizens of several states the chance to end such practices in public employment, public education and public contracting. Similar measures have already passed in three other states, all by overwhelming margins.
Colorado Civil Rights Initiative Coming to 2008 Ballot
For Immediate Release
Monday – April 23, 2007
Contact: Valery Pech Orr (303) 968-7077
Plans for Anti-Preferences Campaign Announced
Denver Colorado - The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative is moving forward with plans for a November, 2008 ballot measure banning government-sponsored race and gender preferences in the state. The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative will be part of a 'Super Tuesday for Equal Rights' campaign that will offer citizens of several states the chance to end such practices in public employment, public education and public contracting. Similar measures have already passed in three other states, all by overwhelming margins.
Ward Connerly Announces Exploratory Efforts in Eight States for Civil Rights Initiatives
For Immediate Release
Wednesday – December 12, 2006
Contact: Diane Schachterle (916) 444-2278 or ds@acri.org
Sacramento, CA --Today, the American Civil Rights Coalition (ACRC) announces the formation of exploratory committees to bring Civil Rights Initiatives to as many as eight new states: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah. These voter initiatives seek to make it unconstitutional for state and local governments to discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any group or individual on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public contracting, and public education.
