Читать книгу The Best of "The Way I See It" and Other Political Writings (1989-2010) - Jamala Rogers - Страница 10

April, 2006

“If I’m doing this as a puppet for

somebody…at least I should get

paid for it…”

Ward CONnerly

Sometimes people live up to their names. I cannot write Ward’s last name without emphasizing the ‘con.” Ward CONnerly is best known for his crafty campaigns against affirmative action and he gets paid big bucks for doing it. In 1999, CONnerly told Interracial Voice magazine, “If I’m doing this as a puppet for somebody…at least I should get paid for it…”

CONnerly is bringing his bag of tricks to the Show-Me State and it is critical that a united Missouri send a strong message to the nation. We should be outraged that outsiders think they can change the state constitution without a fight from fair-minded citizens. So far, a number of Ward’s appearances have been met with protests. However, the old white guys in Columbia’s Pachyderm Club greeted him with enthusiasm at their meeting. They are part of the constituent group that Ward cronies hope will carry the day. It is part of the insidious divide-and-conquer strategy that has put key successes under CONnerly’s belt.

The deceptive, multi-faceted strategy started in California in 1996. It was important that Ward and his so- called American Civil Rights Institute (ACRI) win first in one of the biggest multi-racial states. They swarmed in before folks had a chance to figure out what was happening. Then ACRI used California as a trophy state to show that his initiative had significant support. The ballot initiative was heavily funded by white contractors and big business interests. ACRI moved on to Washington and Michigan, pitting blacks against whites, men against women, and liberals against conservatives. The KKK in Michigan went on record in support of the initiative that took two elections to get passed. Now the cocky group is looking at a “Super Tuesday for Equal Rights” this November, in five states that would outlaw affirmative action in public contracts, higher education and jobs.

Besides Missouri, ACRI is actively working in Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado and Oklahoma - the strategy being to hit states with predominantly white populations. Deceptive ballot language is a key factor in the winning strategy. To their credit, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and Attorney General Jay Nixon have legally challenged the language for the Missouri ballot. The judge did make some changes but the case is now being appealed.

Let us be very clear. ACRI’s initiative is to eliminate the meager measures that were put in place to level the playing field for those who have experienced systemic discrimination in the workplace and in education. The effects of having no enforced plan are definitively evident. In California, student enrollment in colleges and universities has dropped significantly. Within a few years, contracts to women and minority-owned firms were cut in half. It is a roll back to the days of segregation. The affirmative action dialog is knocking heads with the race issues that have erupted in the presidential campaign. It is an excellent opportunity to talk about opportunity - who gets it, who doesn’t and why.

Missourians can stop the ACRI if we understand that the way we conduct racial matters is the reason we are seen as an easy win. We Can MO is a coalition of groups and individuals committed to stopping the CONnerly game before he gets the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative on the ballot by encouraging voters not to sign their petition. There is a lot of stake and we all suffer when there are artificial divisions created for the benefit of a few. Dr. Terry Jones, a white professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis said it best at We Can’s recent town hall meeting: “To call a ban on affirmative action a “civil rights initiative” is a lie. It deprives people of color of the right to have the sufferings and effects of centuries of slavery and segregation overcome. It deprives whites of the ability to support policies that will move us to a more equal society. It deprives women of the right to have the impact of centuries of discriminatory laws undone. It deprives men of the ability to champion programs [that] will lead to us a more equal society.”

Postscript: Progressives forces successfully beat back the slimy efforts of Ward CONnerly in Missouri before it could even get on the ballot. Out of the five states he targeted, CONnerly was successful only in Nebraska. Arizona, Oklahoma and Colorado also stopped him in his cold, conservative tracks before the initiative could be put on the ballot.