Civilrights.org Gears Up for Proposition 54 Battle
Feature Story by Ritu Kelotra - 9/2/2003
A new Special Report site, “Proposition 54: Understanding Not Ignorance," will buttress the nationwide effort to stop California’s Proposition 54 from passing.As opposition continues to mount for the so-called “Racial Privacy Initiative,” which was introduced by University of California Regent Ward Connerly, the new Web site will act as a clearinghouse of information to the public. Proposition 54, if approved, would ban California from collecting racial data in all but a few exempted areas. The measure's data collection ban would damage the state’s ability to address disparities by race or ethnicity in health care and disease patterns, educational resources and academic achievement, and hate crimes and discrimination.
The Special Report will provide a section of updated news clippings tailored only for Proposition 54 news, and also will feature original, in-depth coverage of the initiative.
In addition to news stories, the Special Report will have a “Learn More” page with valuable fact sheets, press releases, promotional items, opposition lists, and Internet links. In the “Act Now!” area of the site, the public will have access to informative action alerts, as well as a petition that can be signed electronically.
California voters will decide the fate of Proposition 54 on Oct. 7, 2003 – the same day they will decide whether or not to recall Gov. Gray Davis.
