-----Original Message-----
From: Vivek Malhotra [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 6:15 PM
To: Vivek Malhotra
Subject: VOTE NO on PROP 54 - Please Distribute Widely
Vote NO on Prop. 54!
Stop the Information Ban on Oct. 7th
"By blocking access to almost all information about race, Prop. 54 would end the State's ability to enforce civil rights and make it alarmingly easy for groups and individuals to practice discrimination."--U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
"Prop.54 would eliminate statistical information that health care providers need to provide quality care to Californians, prevent disease, and save lives."--California Medical Association
Prop. 54-(Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color, or National Origin Initiative), makes it illegal for state and local agencies, including schools, hospitals, and law enforcement, to collect or analyze data on race or ethnicity. We need this information. We use it to save lives, make communities safe, address disparities in education, and protect civil rights.
This so-called "Racial Privacy Initiative" is not what it seems! Prop. 54 is deceptive with confusing exemptions that are too narrow and vague. This initiative threatens the well-being of California's Asian Pacific American communities.
1. Prop. 54 wipes out data health professionals need to fight chronic diseases, develop effective prevention programs, and save lives. Hepatitis B is a silent killer in the Asian American community. Yet, Prop. 54 makes it illegal for public health agencies and the University of California to track diseases and health issues by race or ethnicity. Without this data, it would be impossible to tailor preventitive programs for specific cultures and communities. The CA Medical Association, CA Academy of Family Physicians, Kaiser Permanente, and many other healthcare organizations oppose Prop. 54 because it bans research that saves lives.
2. Prop. 54 makes it illegal for the state to collect information law enforcement and local communities use to combat hate crimes and prevent racial profiling. More than 1150 hate crimes based on a person's race or ethnicity were reported in 2000 alone. Especially vulnerable since 9/11, the APA community has been a constant target for these crimes. The initiative prevents state agencies from collecting and analyzing data to ensure racial profiling does not happen. The State Attorney General, law enforcement groups, and the Anti-Defamation League all oppose Prop. 54.
3. Prop. 54 hides discrimination in employment. Promotions for Asian American women in the state government workforce fell by 8% in the 3 years after affirmative action programs were eliminated (1997-99). Without data, it would be impossible to challenge unreasonable job requirements or glass ceilings that discriminate against Asian Pacific Americans.
Chinese for Affirmative Action, The Council of Asian American Business Associations, the entire API Legislative Caucus, and many other community leaders all oppose Prop. 54.
We cannot measure progress without data.
Join us in defeating Prop. 54!
Vote No on Prop. 54! on the special recall ballot on OCT. 7, 2003!
For more information, please visit www.informedcalifornia.org or www.caasf.org To volunteer, please contact Le T. Quach @ (415) 274-6760 Ext. 304 or [email protected]
Chinese for Affirmative Action, 17 Walter Lum Place, San Francisco, CA 94108 (415) 274-6750, [email protected]
Asian Pacific American Leaders Against Prop. 54 include Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, American Academy of Pediatrics-California, American Public Health Association, APIA Health Forum, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Asian Health Services, Asian Law Alliance, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific American Bar Assoc., Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian Pacific American Political Association, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Asian Pacific Islander Democrats/SD, Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, Assemblymember Carol Liu, Assemblymember George Nakano, Assemblymember Judy Chu, Assemblymember Leland Yee, Assemblymember Wilma Chan, California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative, Cambodian Association of America, Chinatown Community Development Center, Congressman Mike Honda, Chinatown Service Center, Chinese American Political Association, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Chinese Progressive Association, Cupertino Mayor Michael Chan, East Bay Asian Voter Education Consortium, Hapa Issues Forum, Japanese Am. Citizens League ? PSW Civil Rights Caucus, John Chiang, Bd. of Equalization, Korean Community Center for the East Bay, Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates, Korean Resource Center, Nat?l Asian Pacific Am. Families Against Substance Abuse, National Pacific Islander Educator Network, NICOS-Chinese Health Coalition, Oakland Councilmember Danny Wan, Oakland Councilmember Jean Quan, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Organization of Chinese Americans, PALs for Health, Pan Asian Lawyers? of San Diego, Philipino Lawyers Club of San Diego, San Diego Alliance for Asian Pacific Islander Americans, San Francisco Assessor Mabel Teng, San Francisco Supervisor Fiona Ma, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Self Help for the Elderly, South Asian Bar Association, South Asian Network, Vietnamese American Public Affairs Committee ? CA, and many other community organizations.