Californians Set to Vote on Racial Privacy Initiative
A new ballot measure, Proposition 54 or the Racial Privacy Initiative, will be voted on in California along with the gubernatorial recall on October 7. The initiative proposes to ban California government from gathering information from people regarding their race, ethnicity, color or national origin, with exceptions for medical research or to meet court decrees and federal requirements. Advocates of the initiative, which is backed by businessman and University of California regent Ward Connerly, assert that eliminating racial statistics will promote a colorblind society. However, opponents argue that such tactics will hamper efforts at monitoring and promoting minority issues and advances. Other states are watching California's efforts closely, and the debate is likely to have national implications.
Racial Data Battle Line Drawn Sacramento Bee, August 10, 2003
