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RESOLUTIONS
 AAUW Arizona’s
Argument against Proposition 107
Arizona Civil
Rights Referendum
AAUW (American Association
of University Women) Arizona is a non-partisan organization
that works to advance equity for women and girls through
advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Throughout
Arizona, AAUW sponsors programs that educate and prepare
young women for leadership roles in their communities and in
the state. If the proposed referendum is adopted it will
dismantle Arizona’s successful equal opportunities programs
and endanger our state’s ability to educate the diverse
workforce needed to attract new businesses and improve our
state’s economy. Arizona would be deprived of valuable
programs that help girls to prepare for college, and women
to enter math, science and engineering fields, programs such
as YWCA Bright Futures Program; Arizona State University
Women in Science Program (WISE); and the City of Phoenix
Teen Parents Program.
Two years ago this same
deceptively-named amendment to the Arizona Constitution was
proposed for Arizona by an out-of-state group that failed to
register a sufficient number of valid signatures for it to
appear on the ballot. Prop 107, more accurately called the
“anti-equal opportunity referendum,” would amend Arizona’s
Constitution to prohibit equal opportunity programs in our
state. Referendum 107 deceptively claims to “level the
playing field,” but there is no level playing field in
educational programs, jobs, and businesses where girls,
women and people of color are under-represented. Equal
opportunity programs offer the help that they need to
achieve their aspirations and become productive citizens.
AAUW AZ opposes Referendum
107 because of its negative impact, particularly on women
and their families, and on the future of our state. It
would be a giant step backward. We urge you to vote NO.
Organization: AAUW
(American Association of University Women) Arizona
Sara Wolters, President
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ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
PROP 107, better known as the anti-equal opportunity initiative, will
eliminate important programs that ensure academic success for Arizona’s
students. Today’s students are the workforce of the future. Without programs
that help students learn study skills, access internships, and prepare for the
workplace, Arizona’s students will fall behind.
Passage of PROP 107 will eliminate many programs that support academic
progress and improved student achievement. Among those programs is WISE (Women
in Science and Engineering), an ASU-sponsored program that supports women
studying math, science, technology, and engineering. WISE provides
extracurricular programs in the field, helps students apply for internships and
jobs and supports young women through the application process for graduate
programs. Also on the chopping block would be Upward Bound, a program designed
to help college students learn study habits, enroll in the right classes, and
prevent dropouts. Upward Bound will be eliminated because it is designed for
low-income students of color. The Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program will also be
eliminated. This program provides Hispanic girls in grades 7-12 and their
mothers five years of preparation for college.
Arizona’s diverse student population is served well by those and many other
programs like them. The Arizona Education Association requests that you vote
NO on PROP 107.
Organization: Arizona Education Association, Phoenix
John Wright, President
Andrew Morrill, Vice President
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ARIZONA
The League of Women Voters of Arizona is opposed to Proposition 107, which would
actually be an anti-equal opportunity amendment to the Arizona Constitution.
The LWVAZ thinks that everyone in Arizona should have an equal opportunity to
succeed, regardless of race or gender. Furthermore, the LWVAZ thinks that the
passage of this initiative would be bad for Arizona and particularly for Arizona
women and girls.
The LWVAZ believes that all qualified candidates should get a fair chance to
compete for jobs or obtain an education based on individual merit, not special
connections. Proposition 107 would turn back the clock to a society of “good
old boy” networks where women and people of color routinely face discrimination.
The LWVAZ stands for openness and honesty in the political process. We
believe in transparency in all aspects of government, and dislike this overt
effort to confuse voters. The LWVAZ opposes this attempt to dismantle programs
that work today and will continue to do so for Arizona’s future.
The LWVAZ stands united with women and men from across the state to make our
fellow citizens aware of the adverse implications of this proposition and ask
them to vote “NO” on Proposition 107.
Organization: League of Women Voters of Arizona
Dr. Bonnie F. Saunders, President
Dr. Barbara Klein, 1st Vice President
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NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
Greater Phoenix Urban League
The title “Arizona Civil Rights Initiative” in and of itself is deceptive.
This effort is managed and funded by out-of-state interests, spearheaded by
California businessman Ward Connerly. It takes away rights and programs which
have served Arizona well in the past and which are important to an invigorated
and forward-thinking Arizona economic future.
The Connerly anti-equal opportunity initiative will change Arizona’s
Constitution to prohibit the state (and local governments, schools and
universities) from offering any type of equal opportunity programs to women and
people of color in Arizona. Among the programs which would be eliminated if the
Connerly initiative is passed are ASU’s Bridges to Biomedical Career program,
the Phoenix Teen Parents program, the Commission on the Prevention of Violence
against Women, the YWCA Bright Futures program, the New Start Summer program and
ASU’s Women in Science Education (WISE) program.
Organization: Greater Phoenix Urban League
George Dean, President & CEO
Diana Gregory, Chair, Board of Directors
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CIVIL RIGHTS ADVISORY BOARD
I am chairman of the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board and our board
opposes the Arizona Civil Rights Referendum. Recently, our board heard
presentations from leaders on both sides of this issue. After careful
consideration of the facts that were presented by both sides, a quorum of the
Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board voted unanimously in opposition to the
Arizona Civil Rights Referendum.
The Arizona Civil Rights Board is a politically balanced volunteer body
appointed by the Arizona Governor and authorized under AR.S. §41-1402(A) to make
periodic surveys of the existence and effect of discrimination in the employment
of civil rights by any person within the State of Arizona, to foster the
elimination of discrimination through community effort, and to issue
publications of the results of studies, investigations and research as in our
judgment, will tend to promote goodwill and the elimination of discrimination
between persons because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, familial
status or national origin.
Referendum 107 amends the Arizona Constitution to eliminate rights and
programs which have served Arizona well, programs which are even more important
today for Arizona’s long-term economic future.
“Quotas” don’t exist in Arizona. State employers are already prohibited from
considering race or gender in hiring practices. A person cannot be admitted or
denied admission to any of Arizona’s community colleges or universities based on
race or gender in Arizona. The programs we have in place in Arizona school
today are provided only after students have been accepted based on academic
merit.
Programs threatened by Referendum 107 include ASU’s Bridges to Biomedical
Careers and Women in Science Education programs, the Phoenix Teen Parents
program, the Commission on the Prevention of Violence against Women and others.
I urge all Arizonans to vote “NO” on the Arizona Civil Rights Referendum.
Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board
Office of the Attorney General
Jeff Lavender
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TUCSON HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce opposes
Prop 107. This proposition will limit the opportunities for women and minority
owned businesses in our state to win state, county and local procurement
contracts. Pima County and the City of Tucson recently completed a Disparity
Study that found there is a statistically significant disparity between the
utilization and availability of minority owned firms in many race
classifications when not able to participate in MWBE goals programs in other
states.
All firms should receive an equal opportunity to
compete for contracts. The existing preferential point system is a necessity
for MWBE firms. The aforementioned study found that MWBE firms may lack key
procurement business relationships and consequently be left off of preferred
vendor lists without such a system. Without a MWBE goal program the usage of
such firms would be drastically reduced. Our state still needs to improve – the
study found that during a five-year period, MWBE firms received only 9.8% of all
contracts in the general equipment and supplied category. The passing of Prop
107 will further limit opportunities for our over 50,000 Hispanic owned firms
and other MWBE firms in our state.
Our business community is also concerned that
the passing of such legislation will drastically affect the recruitment
retention of Hispanic and other ethnic minority students at the University of
Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. Our state
cannot afford the additional negative publicity that this bill will bring
especially after the passing of SB1070 and the Ethnic Studies bill.
Please vote no on Prop 107.
Organization: Tucson Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce
Lea Marquez Peterson, President
Bill Holmes, Past Chairman of the Board
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ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
The Arizona Public Health Association
(AZPHA) strongly opposes Proposition 107 as it will further increase health
disparities in Arizona. Although the overall health of the population has
improved, racial and ethnic minorities generally experience higher rates of
preventable illness and death than non-minorities. For example, American
Indians disproportionately die from diabetes, liver disease, and unintentional
injuries; Hispanic Americans are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites
to die from diabetes; and, some Asian-American subpopulations experience rates
of stomach, liver and cervical cancers that are well above national averages.
This proposition will prevent minorities from receiving the prevention and
treatment they need. It will also prevent organizations from receiving grants
that focus on helping such populations. This one size fits all approach will
not improve the public’s health, but will instead cause further health
disparities.
Please vote no on Prop 107 and
Protect the Public’s Health.
Organization: Arizona Public Health
Association, Phoenix
Jennifer Bonnett, Executive Director
Ellen Owens Summo, President Elect
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LOS ABOGADOS HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION
PROP 107 is built on fraud and deception.
The deceivingly positive naming of PROP 107 as
the “Arizona Civil Rights Amendment” and its false promises of equality are
intended to mislead the voting public. PROP 107 has nothing to do with the
improvement or furtherance of civil rights. In fact, it will have
serious, long-term, negative effects in this
state. Moreover, its original proponent is not an Arizona resident. Instead of
seeking what is best for this state, he is using Arizona to further a strictly
personal agenda that greatly benefits him financially. Across the nation, when
this same proponent presented a similar initiative, he received support from the
Ku Klux Klan. That endorsement speaks loudly about where PROP 107 can be
expected to take the state. PROP 107 is very plainly a wolf in sheep’s
clothing.
The damage forecasted for Arizona from PROP
107 is irreparable.
Though initially presented as being positive,
similar measures across the United States have had a devastating impact on their
communities once passed into law. Most significantly, they have returned access
to business, education, and employment opportunities to a “good ol’ boys”
network. With women and minorities collectively making up almost 75% of the
population in Arizona, PROP 107 will negatively affect the everyday lives of a
substantial majority of Arizona’s citizens.
In Arizona, diversity is important to attracting
the best companies and the highest paying jobs for all citizens. Large,
successful, multinational companies recognize the need to have a dynamic and
diverse workforce. Should PROP 107 become law in this state, our reputation as
a state unfriendly to diversity will highly discourage new businesses and
investment from coming to Arizona at a time when that is exactly what is needed.
Organization: Los Abogados Hispanic Bar
Association
Salvador Ongaro, President
Margarita Silva, Recording Secretary
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NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN
This initiative is not about protecting civil
rights or ending discrimination as claimed, but is designed to end all programs
intended to achieve equal opportunity for women and minorities.
The National Organization for Women is dedicated
to achieving equality of treatment, equality of opportunity, and equal pay for
women. Historically women and minorities have been denied the right to vote,
property rights, and access to higher education. They were passed over in
hiring and promotion and consigned to low-paying, dead-end jobs that resulted in
much higher rates of poverty. Things are better now, but we have not yet
overcome the many generations of discrimination. Women in Arizona still make
only 77 cents for every dollar made by a man in a similar job. They are still
more likely to live in poverty and to lack basic necessities such as health
insurance.
Prop 107, promoted by wealthy out-of-state
interests seeking to make us a national test case, would end all state programs
that try to improve this situation. We would no longer be able to fund programs
that seek to prevent violence against women. We could no longer encourage women
and minority-owned business to compete for state contracts. We could no longer
encourage and support women students seeking to enter the high-paying (and
economically vital) fields of science and engineering.
Denying equal opportunity to a large segment of
our population weakens our entire society and makes all of us poorer. Vote NO
on Prop 107.
Organization: Arizona National Organization for
Women
Eric Ehst, Policy Coordinator (President),
Karen Van Hooft, Political Action Coordinator
(Vice President)
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ARIZONA WOMEN’S POLITICAL CAUCUS
The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC), and its chapters
in Tucson and the Greater Phoenix areas, work to help women attain leadership
positions at all levels of government, improve the status of all Arizona women
and educate and train young women to attain leadership roles in the future. PROP
107, the so-called “Arizona Civil Rights Initiative,” is counter to AWPC
principles and the progress made for women and girls in Arizona today. AWPC
opposes this out-of-state effort to dismantle Arizona’s effective equal
opportunity programs.
PROP 107, more accurately called the “Connerly anti-equal
opportunity initiative,” will amend Arizona’s Constitution to eliminate equal
opportunity programs in our state. If the Connerly initiative passes, Arizona
will lose highly valued programs that help women who are victims of domestic
violence, women who are single mothers trying to get off welfare, women who need
assistance preparing for college or women in math, science, and engineering
programs. Some specific programs at risk if the Connerly anti-equal opportunity
initiative passes: the Commission on Prevention of Violence Against Women, the
Phoenix Teen Parents program, the YWCA Bright Futures Program, the Commission on
Healthy Women and Families, the New Start Summer program and the Women in
Science and Engineering Education program.
PROP 107 would be a giant step backward for women, girls and
people of color in Arizona. It is bad for Arizona’s future. We respectfully
request your NO vote.
Organization: Arizona
Women’s Political Caucus and its Chapters, Phoenix
Eric Ehst, Policy Coordinator (President),
Karen Van Hooft, Political Action Coordinator
(Vice President)
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WE CAN! UNITED TO DEFEAT
PROPOSITION 107
Proposition 107 would make equal
opportunity illegal in Arizona, eliminating current educational, employment and
contracting programs that help people of color and all women succeed. The
sponsors of this bill have themselves identified many ways in which communities
in Arizona will be harmed if the measure becomes law. Many of the programs
potentially at risk from this anti-opportunity proposition are outside of the
areas traditionally considered subjects of equal opportunity.
For example: Proposition 107 would
eliminate programs designed to encourage girls interested in math and science to
pursue careers in those fields and scholarships targeted to encourage people of
color to enter medical careers in underserved communities, or to become K-12
teachers.
From 1996 to 2006, after the passage
of a similar proposition in California, the number of underrepresented minority
freshman in the entering class at the University of California fell 65%. At
UCLA, the drop in minority enrollment in the freshman class during that same
decade was 45%. The declining rates came at the same time that the population
of the state is increasingly diverse.
Significant harm could also occur to
contracting opportunities for people of color and women in Arizona. For
example, data from Grand Rapids, Michigan (after implementation of a similar
measure) show construction project dollars going to minority-owned business
enterprises (MBEs) declined by 45% and the amount going to women-owned business
enterprises (WBEs) dropped by 70%.
The effort to end equality and
opportunity programs is bound to damage the economic status of women and people
of color and undermine growth of our communities. Helping to strengthen
communities helps us all, because we’re all in this together. When communities
fail, they become a public burden – but when they succeed, it’s a public
benefit.
Organization: WE CAN! The Equality
and Opportunity Committee Opposing Prop 107
Miguel Zazueta, Treasurer
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DEMOCRATS
Change that Matters
This deceptively named measure would
stop any efforts by Arizona’s governmental entities to reduce racial and gender
bias. Although progress has been made, Arizona needs more diversity in its
government offices, corporate boardroom and University graduation classes to
better reflect the state’s true demographics. Sometimes people need incentives
to do what is right. Without programs of equal opportunity in place, it will be
too easy to fall back on the exclusionary practices of the past.
Prop 107 pretends to be something it
is not. Don’t be fooled. Vote no.
Organization: Maricopa County
Democratic Party
Ann Wallack, Chair
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