Taking Action
Coalition forms to block ballot initiative that
would ban affirmative action.
SHARON LUCKERMAN
StaffWriter
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hile both groups claim to
be for racial and gender
diversity in the university
and workplace, they have
lined up on opposite sides of a proposed
ballot initiative to ban affirmative action
in Michigan.
On one side is a group associated with
Ward Connerly, an African American
real estate consultant who has fought
against affirmative action legislation in
his home state of California, as well as
Texas and Washington. On Jan. 12, the
group began a petition drive to place on
the ballot the "Michigan Civil Rights
Initiative" — a proposed state constitu-
tional amendment that would ban the
use of race and gender in both universi-
ty admissions and local and state gov-
ernment hiring and contracting.
Combating Connerly's proposal is
Citizens for a United Michigan — a
statewide coalition of business, educa-
tion, civic religious and civil rights
organizations including the NAACP
and the American Civil Liberties Union.
This coalition kicked off a major infor-
mation campaign against the petition
drive Jan. 13 in Lansing.
If the Michigan Civil
Rights Initiative gathers
318,000 signatures, it will go
on the ballot this fall, said
Sharona Shapiro, Michigan
area director of the American
Jewish Committee. The local
AJC urges people not to sign
the petition.
The Citizens for a United
Michigan was formed to pre-
serve the legislative mecha-
nism that worked to elimi-
nate racism and economic
disparity, she said. "These
initiatives have also greatly
benefited women, not only
African Americans and other
minorities of color."
Maxine Berman, a former state repre-
sentative from Southfield, agreed. She
says the biggest winners of affirmative
action since its inception have been
white women. Berman represents the
National Association of Women
Business Owners in the citizens
coalition.
"It's important for people to think
before they give away their name on a
petition," she said. "This is a 400-word,
very vaguely worded proposal with all
kinds of unintended consequences."
For example, Berman says, a city with
a large minority population may no
longer be able to diversify its police force
to reflect that population.
Berman also points out that the ballot
proposal does not address preferences
given to children of university contribu-
tors and athletes.
"Those for the ballot proposal don't
oppose affirmative action, they just don't
want it for women or minorities," she
said. "They don't mind if it's for a child
of a wealthy contributor or a 300-
pound right tackle from Alpena."
Teachers union leader David Hecker,
who also opposes the initiative, said,
"The Supreme Court ruled that it is a
worthwhile and legitimate goal to have
diversity in higher education." Hecker is
president of the Michigan Federation of
Teachers & School Related Personnel,
an organization that is part of the coali-
tion against the proposal.
"Programs that right the historical
wrongs of discrimination are essential
and the right thing to do," he said. ❑
Citizens for a United Michigan support-
ers Kag Moss, executive director of
American Civil Liberties of Michigan;
David Hecker, president of et Michigan
teachers union; Sharona Shapiro,
Michigan area director of American
Jewish Committee; and Maxine
Berman, former state representative.