by Joselito Laudencia, Executive Director
Californians for Justice
On June 2nd, California voters will face yet again the ugly head of right-wing initiatives. In 1994, voters passed Proposition 187, which
aimed to deny medical, social and educational services to undocumented immigrants in California; and Proposition 184, the "Three Strikes You're Out" initiative. In 1996, Proposition 209 wiped out affirmative
action programs in public state and local institutions in the areas of education, employment and contracting. This time, the right wing continues to exploit the racial and economic anxiety of California voters by
attempting to pass the anti-bilingual education Proposition 227 and the anti-worker Proposition 226.
Proposition 227, the so-called "English for the Children" initiative, is deceptive. In fact, Prop 227 hurts
our children's chances to learn English and at the same time denies them their native language and culture. Prop 227 pulls kids out of bilingual programs that work and uses them as guinea pigs in a dangerous
statewide experiment.
Here's what Proposition 227 will do to hurt California's children:
- Ends all bilingual education programs in California;
- Forces children of different ages into one classroom to learn English in one year;
- Throws kids into regular English language classes to sink or swim after the first year;
- Threatens teachers with lawsuits if they speak to kids in any language other than English;
- Takes away the power of parents and local school districts in making programs work.
Proposition 227 is opposed by education and civil rights groups, including the California Teachers Association, the California PTA, the California Association of School Boards, the California League of Women Voters,
as well as Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Lucille Roybal-Allard. The main money and proponent behind Prop 227 comes from Republican multi-millionaire Ron Unz of Palo Alto, who admits he has no experience in
bilingual education and has never even stepped into a bilingual education classroom! Having lost the Republican nomination for California Governor to Pete Wilson in 1994, Ron Unz is using Proposition 227 to
advance his political career.
Proposition 226, the anti-worker initiative, silences the political voice of workers. Governor Pete Wilson, one of the co-chairs to the Prop 226 campaign, aims with this initiative
to make it illegal for unions to spend money on elections without a complicated authorization procedure by each union member every twelve months. Already corporations outspend unions in elections by 17 to 1.
If this initiative passes, it would be 17 to 0. Big business and wealthy right-wing individuals would be allowed to spend corporate dollars unchecked in every future election!
The appearance of Propositions 226
and 327 on a California primary ballot is not accidental. Since the 1980s, California has long been a testing ground for right-wing activity, including anti-gay and lesbian initiatives in the mid-1980s to the
racist initiatives of the 1990s. This political agenda moves quickly from California and spreads to other states across the country. Why California continues to pursue these mean-spirited initiatives is
largely due to the disparity between who lives in California and who votes.
People of color now make up 47% of' the California population, yet in November 1996 represented only 25% of the electorate. Similarly,
young people (18-29) and low-income individuals (making less than $20,000) make up 26% of the population, yet represent only 14% of the electorate. The participation of these communities in a primary election is
even more dismal. However, taken together, these groups represent an emerging majority in California. If these communities get organized, California may well see an end to the passage of these initiatives, and
perhaps may not see these measures on the ballot at all.
What's necessary is the organizing to make it happen. Californians for Justice (CFJ), a statewide grassroots organization, proved it was possible in
1996. Although Prop 209 passed statewide, CFJ defeated the initiative in every one of the 1,350 precincts it worked in, sometimes with as high a margin as 90% against. With over 10,000 volunteers involved in
the course of 18 months, CFJ proved that a group led by people of color, women, young and working class people could organize a significant vote and voice in the electoral arena.
What we face in the short-term is the
difficult task of defeating these dangerous initiatives, Propositions 226 and 227. But long-term, if we are successful in involving more individuals, if we expose the divisive political agendas at work, and if we
explicitly aim to build power for positive social change, we have the potential for advancing an agenda for a truly equitable and just California. Organized, we can win!
To get involved, to contribute money to
the fight against Propositions 226 and 227 of for more information, contact Californians for Justice, 1010 S. Flower Street, Suite 218, Los Angeles, CA, 90015. Or call at (213) 747-4495.
