Ward Connerly's Anti-Equal Opportunity Efforts
Ward Connerly, a California businessman and former University of California regent, has tried to enact ballot initiatives in various states to eliminate equal opportunity initiatives in higher education, employment, and contracting. Connerly is president of the anti-equal opportunity American Civil Rights Institute.
DECODING CONNERLY: Ward Connerly Research Fact Sheet
2008 Initiatives (Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Oklahoma, Missouri)
Connerly tried to pass anti-equal opportunity ballot initiatives in five states in 2008 – Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
In November 2008, voters in Colorado rejected Amendment 46 (49 percent - 51 percent), becoming the first state to vote down a Connerly anti-equal opportunity ballot initiative. Connerly's initiatives failed to make the ballot in Arizona, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
However, Nebraska voters passed Initiative 424 (58 percent - 42 percent), making Nebraska the fourth state to ban equal opportunity.
- Victory on Equal Opportunity - Feature Story - 11/6/08
- Coloradans Uphold Equal Opportunity - Press Release - 11/6/08
- Colorado Initiative 82: A Ballot Initiative to Ensure Equal Opportunity - Feature Story - 10/30/08
- Connerly Anti-Equal Opportunity Initiative Fails to Make Ballot in Arizona; Initiatives in Remaining States Face Strong Opposition - Feature Story - 8/25/08
- Arizona Foils Ward Connerly's Anti-Equal Opportunity Initiative - Press Release - 8/22/08
- Connerly Suffers Setbacks as Civil Rights Groups Claim Victories in the Fight to Protect Equal Opportunity - Feature Story - 5/29/08
- Another Connerly Ballot Initiative Scuttled - Press Release - 5/5/2008
- Setbacks for Connerly - Feature Story - 4/16/08
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (Proposal 2)
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI), also called Proposal 2, was a ballot initiative that passed on November 7, 2006. The proposal became law on December 22, 2006. Proposal 2 bans "the use of affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment" in state contracting, employment, and higher education.
University of California
- UC Regents Reject Ward Connerly's 'Multiracial' Checkbox - 11/18/04
- Students, Organizations Testify Against Ward Connerly's 'Multiracial' Checkbox - 11/17/04
Colorado Civil Rights Act
On March 26, 2004, the Colorado Senate defeated legislation --18 to 17 -- that would have eradicated equal opportunity programs in the state.
California Proposition 54
On October 7, 2003, residents in California defeated ballot initiative Proposition 54 — otherwise known as the Classification on Race, Ethnicity, Color, and National Origin (CRECNO) initiative.
California Proposition 209
On November 5, 1996 California voters approved an initiative amending the State Constitution's Article 1, Sec. 31, to prohibit "preferential treatment" based on "race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin" by the State or any of its subdivisions or in strumentalities in employment, education or contracting programs.
