NAACP Calls For Prop 8 to Be Overturned

[bluedawg12]

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/

NAACP Calls For Prop 8 to Be Overturned
Jim Burroway
February 25th, 2009
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has joined the California chapter in calling for Proposition 8 to be overturned:

“The NAACP’s mission is to help create a society where all Americans have equal protection and opportunity under the law,” said President Jealous. “Our Mission Statement calls for the ‘equality of rights of all persons.’ Prop. 8 strips same-sex couples of a fundamental freedom, as defined by the California State Supreme Court. In so doing, it poses a serious threat to all Americans. Prop. 8 is a discriminatory, unprecedented change to the California Constitution that, if allowed to stand, would undermine the very purpose of a constitution and courts - assuring equal protection and opportunity for all and safeguarding minorities from the tyranny of the majority.”

…”The NAACP has long opposed any proposal that would alter the federal or state constitutions for the purpose of excluding any groups or individuals from guarantees of equal protection,” said Chairman Bond. “We urge the legislature to declare that Proposition 8 did not follow the proper protective process and should be overturned as an invalid alteration that vitiated crucial constitutional safeguards and fundamental American values, threatening civil rights and all vulnerable minorities.”

The NAACP statement urges passage of House Resolution 5 and Senate Resolution 7, which would put the legislature on record as viewing Prop. 8 as an improper alteration of the California Constitution. The question is currently before the California Supreme Court, which is expected to hear arguments on March 5.

[Jamastiene]

1. K&R

[bluedawg12]

2. I like Julian Bond alot, elegant, articulate and smart.

:thumbsup:

[Jamastiene]

3. He's one of my heroes too.

:thumbsup:

[goclark]

4. Ben Jealous is a rising star and he will take the NAACP

even higher in gaining Civil Rights to all people.

I am thrilled that they are fighting this fight and they/we will win.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. REAL LEADERSHIP!! Thank you, Mr. Bond!

[bluedawg12]

6. This is a great statement and says it so well:

"... it (PropHate8) poses a serious threat to all Americans. Prop. 8 is a discriminatory, unprecedented change to the California Constitution that, if allowed to stand, would undermine the very purpose of a constitution and courts - assuring equal protection and opportunity for all and safeguarding minorities from the tyranny of the majority.”

:thumbsup:

[Starry Messenger]

9. Exactly.

That should be easy to understand. NAACP is great to do this. (OT, in addition to all the awesome work they do, they also interred the ashes of Dorothy Parker in 1988. Story here for DP fans: http://www.naacp.org/about/history/dparker/)

[tbyg52]

7. Wonderful!

I'm hoping the thing gets overturned on the very legitimate grounds that you don't put civil rights up for a vote.

[FreeState]

8. I have similar hopes...

if the court finds differently I hope the next ballot measure that restores equality also changes how Civil RIghts issues are to be treated - i.e. no amending away rights of law abiding citizens and a required 65% vote for a pass on all amendments. In reality Id like to see CA do away with its initiative process all together - it creates more problems than its worth in its current form.

[bluedawg12]

10. The same model is being used in other States where one after another human rights

are taken away, infringed upon or curtailed. Issues like adoption rights, foster parenting are high on the rw list, too.

this madness has to stop.

[FreeState]

13. Yeah it needs to stop...

its nothing short of terrorism IMO. Can you even imaging what they would say if we tried to vote there civil rights away?

[Iggo]

11. Welcome to the party, NAACP.

A little late, but hey...lol.

[FreeState]

12. They are not late - they have been against 8 since the beginning and were among the first filing to

overturn it. See:

-----


17 November 2008

NAACP Rejoins California Marriage Fight, Files Suit Against Prop 8

http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2008/11/naacp-rejoins-c.html

------

14 Nov 2008

NAACP Files Suit to Overturn Prop 8

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=984417&boardname=off&boardid=2

------


And they were against it in the General Elections as well -

Prop 8 - Eliminates Marriage Rights
Endorsed Vote: NO
Would revoke marriage rights for same-sex couples and enshrine discrimination in the state constitution, the first time in history that a constitutional amendment would rescind human rights in California.
ALSO OPPOSING: Equality California, ACLU, Cal Labor Fed, CA Democratic Party, Anti-Defamation League, California NAACP, CNA, SEIU CA

http://theballot.org/2008/couragecampaign2008

[Iggo]

14. Ah. I stand corrected.

[LostinVA]

15. MLK and Coretta Scott King would be proud!