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| Michigan Greens Stand Against "Civil Rights" Scam -- Now or in '06 |
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Green Party of Michigan May 28, 2004 For More Information Contact: Representatives of the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) welcomed reports yesterday that backers of a ballot proposal to turn a blind eye to institutionalized racism and discrimination had stopped trying to get the scheme on the 2004 ballot. Since then, the initiative's backers have wavered between bringing it back this year or in 2006 -- but Greens stand ready to oppose the scheme whenever it resurfaces, according to party chair Marc Reichardt. GPMI members rejected the so-called "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative" unanimously at their state convention last weekend. If passed, the proposal would force state agencies -- including law- enforcement and educational institutions -- to stop collecting data indicating the lingering effects of institutionalized racism, and gut programs like Affirmative Action that would "address and redress discrimination", in the words of the GPMI resolution. A state court agreed with opponents of the scheme that the language on petitions circulated to put the question on the ballot was misleading in how it explained the effects of the proposal. An appeal is pending. The GPMI resolution acknowledges that "affirmative action programs are, regrettably, still necessary" and says the plan would have been a "step backwards in addressing discrimination". Reichardt promised that Greens would be here, this fall and in 2006, to work for social justice. "Greens oppose discrimination, now and in the future . . . and we will oppose any proposal to pretend it no longer exists -- unless the world turns upside down and racism really is rooted out in the next two years." GPMI has previously issued statements opposing other proposed 2004 ballot questions which would ban gay marriage and so-called "partial-birth abortion". The party has also taken a stand against legalizing hunting of doves, which the state House recognized in 1998 as the Michigan Bird of Peace.
# # # WHEREAS affirmative action programs are, regrettably, still necessary as a tool to address and redress discrimination; and WHEREAS, although we have made some progress toward ending discrimination, we cannot continue to travel down that right road if we deliberately close our eyes and ignore the wandering steps that take us away from the true path; Now, therefore, the Green Party of Michigan hereby resolves to oppose the so-called "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative", which would be a step backwards in addressing discrimination -- and to call on Michigan voters to join in opposition, refuse to sign petitions for the initiative, and oppose the ballot question that would arise if the petitions are approved. Adopted by consensus at the GPMI state convention on
May 23, 2004.
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