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OTHER PRESS RELEASES

Equal Justice Society Applauds U.S. Supreme Court Decision in University of Michigan Law School Admissions Case
June 23, 2003

Bay Area legal scholars, civil rights advocates to respond to U.S. Supreme Court ruling in University of Michigan affirmative action cases; will speak to impact on post-209 California
June 20, 2003

California minority businesses, black lawyers, law professors support U. of Michigan admissions program; attorneys file amici brief in U.S. Supreme Court
Feb. 18, 2003

Equal Justice Society Cheers Overwhelming
Defeat of Proposition 54

Organization Played Key Role in Coalition that Downed Divisive Measure

SAN FRANCISCO (October 8, 2003) — The Equal Justice Society played a pivotal role in the broad coalition that decisively defeated Ward Connerly's Proposition 54 on October 7, 2003. The dangerous, divisive measure would have banned the collection of racial and ethnic data by any state agency, thus making it virtually impossible to track and document race discrimination or to bring civil rights suits to court.

The measure was overwhelmingly defeated 64 percent to 36 percent, with No on 54 garnering almost 5 million votes.

EJS Executive Director Eva Paterson was a leading spokesperson for the No on 54 Campaign. More than two years prior to the election, Paterson was part of the core group that launched the Coalition for an Informed California, the official opposition campaign organization. The coalition was an extraordinarily broad and diverse network of supporters including health professionals, classroom teachers, law enforcement, trade unionists, civil rights activists, lawyers, academics and students.

"Connerly's Proposition 54 was about burying information about race that could be used to track racial profiling, challenge discrimination in housing, target effective programs to keep kids in school, and - most importantly, perhaps - provide vital health research and treatment," said Paterson, who debated Connerly numerous times during the campaign, including on National Public Radio.

In addition to Paterson's leadership role, the staff and Board of the Equal Justice Society Board played an extraordinary role in raising funds, shaping and spreading the winning messages, and mobilizing volunteers and voters.

More Californians voted against Proposition 54 than for the recall or the winning gubernatorial candidate. "That resounding defeat for Mr. Connerly's ill-advised ballot measure makes his claims to ban affirmative action in four different states, or to propose another race information ban in CA very weak indeed," Paterson said.

"Five million California voters made a historic choice: to reverse the erosion of civil rights that has plagued this country since the Reagan era. That vote will have an impact across the country," Paterson said.

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