Folks –

 

The battle over Affirmative Action continues in a BIG way, especially in Michigan and everyone’s help is needed. (I apologize in advance to any recipients outside of Michigan, but I’m hurrying to get this message out and I simply don’t have the time to edit out the non-Michigan folks…then again, at least you know what to expect if/when this initiative arrives in YOUR state!)

 

For those who might need a quick refresher, the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) has been circulating petitions throughout the state for over one year asking everyone to sign them as a means to get a ballot referendum on the November 2006 state ballot in an attempt to amend the Michigan Constitution. The group hides not only behind the false representation of its name (it certainly doesn’t represent “civil rights” as we all know them), it also obscures the language on its petition by giving the impression that its approval by the voters will result in an amendment to the constitution that will insure and protect civil rights and be against discrimination. In actuality, if passed, the amendment would serve to DISMANTLE all Affirmative Action programs and initiatives throughout the state, from college admissions to employment to contracts and beyond. I’ve attached a copy of the actual petition they used so you can read the language of the petition. Please note that the term “Affirmative Action” is not mentioned or referred to anywhere in the petition.  Indeed, this is deliberate obfuscation and it seeks to and intends to delude and confuse people. The deceptive practice is not limited to the written language; the MCRI recruiters also mislead those who they hired (rumored to be at anywhere from $1 to $3.00 per signature) to circulate the petitions. Some petition circulators have since indicated that they were lied to and told that the petition was intended to “protect” civil rights and “insure” that discrimination is illegal in Michigan. In some instances it was actually hinted at that the petition was pro-Affirmative Action. Confused and mislead themselves, they, in turn, duped potential petition signers into signing petitions that would actually have the exact opposite impact of what they believe in and support.

 

This is not a new tactic at all. It is exactly the technique used by Ward Connerly’s California Civil Rights Initiative in getting Proposition 209 passed in California in November 1996. (See: http://vote96.ss.ca.gov/Vote96/html/BP/209.htm and http://aad.english.ucsb.edu/pages/Prop-209.html) The record is very clear about the damage done to California’s efforts to address inequities of all types. Over the years since, college admissions have reflected extreme declines in the rates of admission of people of color, particularly at the more elite institutions. Programs that had been working to be more inclusive of women have faltered badly, reverting to the “old boy” networks of the past.

 

What to do…???

 

Right now, we need to generate and collect written affidavits from anyone who was approached and mislead by the MCRI petition workers. Please review the posted document below for further details. (It’s also attached in a pdf format.) If you can help, please write and send your letter to the address listed below before July 1, 2005. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me either via email or by telephone (810-762-3365).

 

Tendaji W. Ganges

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"Live to leave a mark, not a stain!"

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Were you asked to sign the petition for the

Michigan Civil Rights Initiative?

 

Were you approached by the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative and asked to sign a petition for a ballot referendum? If the answer is YES, please read on and help us keep their anti-affirmative action referendum off the Michigan ballot in 2006!

 

The so-called Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) used fraud and deception to collect petition signatures to place their ANTI-affirmative action referendum on the Michigan ballot in 2006.

 

Many people, particularly in Michigan’s black communities, were approached by black circulators and told that the petition was a civil rights petition to protect affirmative action, when in fact it will ban all race and gender based affirmative action programs in Michigan.

 

BAMN (The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary) has filed a challenge with the Board of Canvassers demanding that MCRI’s petitions be thrown out because they were gathered through systematic fraud and deception.

 

BAMN has already submitted 82 affidavits from voters who were deliberately deceived by MCRI. BAMN is now looking for additional evidence to prove that this fraud was calculated, widespread and organized from the top. BAMN is seeking written statements from all individuals who were approached by MCRI circulators who either said or implied that the petition was pro-affirmative action. We are also trying to demonstrate that the language of the petition was so vague, even the most educated voter couldn’t tell by reading the petition language that it would ban affirmative action if enacted.

 

Whether or not you signed the petition, if you were lied to, your statement will aid our case. Please take a few moments and write out a short statement that includes the following points:

 

1.      Your name, address, phone number and occupation

2.      When you were approached (approximate date, if not sure of exact date)

3.      Where you were approached

4.      What the person who approached you looked like

5.      What the person said to you, to your best recollection

6.      Whether or not you signed the petition

7.      If you read the language of the petition before signing, and still believed it to be in defense of affirmative action, state that fact

8.      Complete the statement with the sentence “I declare the aforesaid is true under pain of perjury” and then sign the statement.

 

Fax the statement by JULY 1, 2005 to: 313-963-7587 or mail it to BAMN, P.O. Box 24834, Kensington Station, Detroit, MI 48224. If you have questions, call 313-438-3416 or email [log in to unmask]