300 County Students Hold Cal State Rally to Protest Prop. 209

About 300 students from throughout the county rallied on the campus at Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday to protest Proposition 209, the anti-affirmative action initiative.

They carried placards and chanted, “Women are in danger,” “We want diversity in the university” and “Remember November: Vote no on 209.” They called the initiative racist and sexist as they gathered on the quad.

“We are hoping to mobilize 50,000 students to go to the polls and vote no on 209,” said Sabrina Smith, 24, one of the organizers. “I think students are outraged by this whole move to eliminate affirmative action.”

Some onlookers applauded, while others joined the protest.

Political science professor Bruce Wright said he is against the proposition and decided to walk with the students. “I oppose 209 because its divisive purpose is fundamentally racist,” he said. “It will destroy the kind of diversity this crowd represents.”

On Nov. 5, voters will decide whether to adopt the initiative, which would ban preferences in public education, hiring and contracting by state and local governments. Proponents say preferences are not necessary.

Opponents at the rally, however, said they fear that if the proposition passes, scholarships and mentoring and outreach programs for women and minorities would be jeopardized.

Organizers said the rally was just one of several scheduled over the next two weeks by the Orange County Student Alliance, a coalition of students representing eight local colleges and universities. Another rally is scheduled at UC Irvine today.

Students at the Fullerton rally called on other students to raise awareness about the proposition.

Many people “don’t realize that 209 affects everybody--women, minorities, gays, straights, working people, poor people,” said Michael Brown, 25, another Cal State Fullerton student who belongs to the campus Lesbian Gay Bisexual Assn. “It’s going to cause even more discrimination than we already have.”

Added Alain Dang, a 20-year-old UC Irvine student: “Affirmative action is about expanding the pool of qualified people. We’re fighting for educational access.”

The featured speaker, Tim Wise of the Tennessee Institute for Social and Economic Equity, a civil rights organization, told the crowd that the proposition is not needed.

He said it already is illegal to hire, fire or promote solely on the basis of gender, race or ethnicity and that quotas also are prohibited.

“Lingering overt discrimination continues,” Wise said. “It is incumbent upon everybody, including us white men, to stand up for justice. Affirmative action is a moral obligation and a practical obligation. . . . We need to make sure all people have equal opportunity if we want to remain a productive country.”