California Equality Activists Triumph Over Affirmative Action Reinstatement Effort

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A significant victory for equality activists in California has been secured as they successfully thwarted the state legislature's latest attempt to reintroduce affirmative action. The bill, known as ACA-7, was designed to create exceptions to the state's long-standing ban on race-based decisions, but it met a formidable opposition that ultimately led to its downfall.

Proposition 209, passed by California voters in 1996, prohibits state-sponsored preferential treatment based on race, sex, or ethnicity. This foundational amendment faced renewed scrutiny following the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that dismantled affirmative action in college admissions nationwide. Despite these developments, California Democrats pushed ACA-7 through the state assembly, aiming to place it on the November ballot. However, the bill encountered resistance in the state senate, where it failed to meet the deadline for inclusion on the ballot​.

The opposition was spearheaded by a coalition of equality activists, many of whom are affiliated with the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER). During a recent gathering in Irvine, these activists celebrated their triumph, highlighting the grassroots power that carried them to victory. Tony Guan, a prominent activist in the movement, emphasized that while they lacked the financial resources and mainstream media support, their commitment to grassroots organizing proved "unstoppable." The activists relied on traditional methods such as petitions and protests, as well as strategic arguments that convinced several Democratic senators to reconsider their support for ACA-7​.

A key factor in the bill's defeat was the concern among some Democratic lawmakers about potential backlash from their constituents, particularly Asian-American voters. Many Asian-Americans, who have grown increasingly skeptical of race-based admissions policies, were seen as a crucial voting bloc that could influence upcoming elections. This concern led some senators representing purple districts to withdraw their support for the bill, ultimately preventing it from advancing.

Gail Heriot, a law professor at the University of San Diego and a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, played a pivotal role in opposing ACA-7. Heriot argued that the bill would have allowed the state to implement virtually any form of affirmative action, undermining the will of California voters who reaffirmed their support for Proposition 209 as recently as 2020. Heriot’s practical arguments, coupled with the fear of alienating key voter demographics, resonated with enough lawmakers to stall the bill's progress​.

Despite this victory, leaders of the equality movement remain vigilant. They acknowledge that the fight is far from over, as similar efforts to reintroduce affirmative action in California may resurface in the future.

Wenyuan Wu, Executive Director of CFER, vowed that her organization would continue to oppose any future attempts to undermine Proposition 209, stating, "We’re small, but mighty." This sentiment reflects the resolve of activists who have consistently stood against what they view as discriminatory policies masked as efforts to promote equality​.

The failure of ACA-7 serves as a reminder that the debate over affirmative action remains a contentious issue in California, a state often seen as a bellwether for national trends. As the dust settles on this latest battle, equality activists prepare for the possibility of future confrontations, determined to defend what they see as fundamental principles of fairness and equality under the law.

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1 COMMENT

  1. ah ah ahahah Ths totalitarian dictator democrats in california lost. ah ah ahahah.

    I am surprised. this means even leftist judges appointed ten years ago are disgusted by the dmeocrats today.

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