NEWS
Friday, December 05, 2003
The drive to put Ward Connerly's anti-affirmative action initiative on the ballot will be opposed by an organization called "Citizens for a United Michigan," which includes a broad array of participants - from big business to the AFL-CIO, the NAACP and religious organizations. Connerly's organization, the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, has a website designed by frequent commenter on this website Chetly Zarko.> DetNews: "Coalition fights race ballot drive"
> Connerly's organization: Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
Here's the text that will appear on the ballot:
"The proposal would amend the State constitution by adding a Section 25 to Article I.
Article I, Section 25
Civil Rights.
The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and any other public college or university, community college, or school district 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 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.
For the purpose of this section "state" includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the state itself, any city, county, public college or university, community college, school district, or other political subdivision or governmental instrumentality of or within the State of Michigan.
This section does not affect any law or governmental action that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.
This section does not prohibit action that must be taken to establish or maintain eligibility for any federal program, if ineligibility would result in loss of federal funds to the State.
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting bona fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary to the normal operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.
The remedies available for violations of this section shall be the same, regardless of the injured party's race, color, religion, ethnicity, or national origin, as are otherwise available for violations of Michigan's anti-discrimination law.
This section shall be self-executing. If any part or parts of this section are found to be in conflict with the United States Constitution or federal law, the section shall be implemented to the maximum extent that the United States Constitution and federal law permit. Any provision held invalid shall be severable from the remaining portions of this section.
This section applies only to action taken after the effective date of this section.
This section does not invalidate any court order or consent decree that is in force as of the effective date of this section."
Posted by Rob at 2:41 AM
