NAACP and Civil Rights Groups Petition California Supreme Court to stop the enactment of Prop 8

[FreeState]

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 14, 2008) - Civil rights groups today filed a petition with the California Supreme Court to stop the enactment of Proposition 8 because it would mandate discrimination against a minority group and did not follow the process required for fundamental revisions to the California Constitution.

In the petition, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Equal Justice Society, California NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. argue that in order to protect the fundamental rights of all Californians, a higher standard is required to overturn the right to marry. Minority communities cannot be stripped of their fundamental rights by a simple majority vote.

"We would be making a grave mistake to view Proposition 8 as just affecting the LGBT community," said Eva Paterson, president of the Equal Justice Society. "If the Supreme Court allows Proposition 8 to take effect, it would represent a threat to the rights of people of color and all minorities."

The petition filed by Raymond C. Marshall of Bingham McCutchen and Prof. Tobias Barrington Wolff of University of Pennsylvania Law School on behalf of leading African American, Latino, and Asian American groups echo the arguments made in the November 5 lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights: Proposition 8 prevents the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of enforcing the equal protection rights of minorities.

more http://equaljusticesociety.org/prop8/

[GodlessBiker]

1. Many thanks to these organizations for supporting us on this issue!!

[HockeyMom]

2. It needs to be taken to the highest court in this country

which in one fell swoop can strike down ALL discriminatory marriage laws across the country.

[FreeState]

3. Agree - but we need to make sure the Court will rule in our favor first

so we need to let a few of them leave first unfortunately...

[nichomachus]

4. Cool -- people are catching on. This is not just a gay issue.

If they can take existing rights away from gay people, they can take them away from blacks, they can take them away from Jews, and they can take them away from anyone they can whip up a mob mentality against.

This is a civil rights issue -- and affects everyone of every sexual orientation, every race, every color, and every religion.

[KamaAina]

5. The NAACP?! But, but, but I thought those darn black people caused it in the first place!

There must have been like three brazillion threads that told me they did, so it must be true!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[FreeState]

6. I know - imagine that!

In reality the NAACP has supported GLBT people before many times. Same with almost all Civil Rights orgs.

United we win. Divided we fall - anyone trying to make us in-fight is not looking for equality.

[noiretextatique]

10. all of those accusations were based on exit polls

well, perhaps not all of them :sarcasm:

Election Irregularities Surfacing Re: California's Proposition 8!
Exit Poll Shows DEFEAT of Same-Sex Marriage Ban!
Volunteers Needed NOW to Monitor Post-Election Procedures
Link Below to Flyer: Please Print and Circulate at Tomorrow's Protests!

The Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) Community and its supporters nationwide are mourning and organizing in the wake of last week's announced 52-48% passage of Proposition 8, which eliminates the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. But an accurate count of the votes may not yet have occurred, according to early indications.

http://www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce/

[Karenina]

28. . .

[Chulanowa]

14. Well, according to at least one editorialist... (Jasmyne A. Cannick)

Black people voted against it because th people agaisnt Prop 8 went to the NAACP, because the NAACP is "outdated"

[Karenina]

26. There's one in every crowd!

;-) She's just there to satisfy the innards of those who hit the ground running with the "exit poll proof."

[Le Taz Hot]

31. I never saw any threads such as you are claiming.

I saw a lot of questions regarding the high percentage of African-Americans voting FOR Prop H8. For reasonable people, the two certainly do not equate.

[Karenina]

32. Unreasonable people abound!

[KitchenWitch]

7. Yes

Glad to have the big civil rights groups on our side in this fight.

[FreeState]

8. I wonder if there is a master list somewhere of the groups fighting it... n/t

[KitchenWitch]

11. I don't know

I imagine it would not be difficult to compile it and put it on its own blog or something, much like the protests have been organized.

[FreeState]

13. Here are the ones currently listed on the states website

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8.htm

City and County of San Francisco
County of Santa Clara
City of Los Angeles

Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Equal Justice Society
California NAACP
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
The Pacific Justice Institute
Beverly Hills Bar Association
The Bar Association of San Francisco et al.
Forty-Four Members of the State Legislature
Anti-Defamation League et al.
Asian Law Caucus
Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Japanese American Citizens League


----


Im sure Im missing some though...

[xchrom]

9. recommend

[ruggerson]

12. Recommended

[slay]

15. Very cool - I'm still going to my local protest rally tomorrow

Hope yall are too! :hi:

[Duncan Grant]

16. Recommended.

"We would be making a grave mistake to view Proposition 8 as just affecting the LGBT community," said Eva Paterson, president of the Equal Justice Society. "If the Supreme Court allows Proposition 8 to take effect, it would represent a threat to the rights of people of color and all minorities."

:thumbsup:

[bluedawg12]

17. Outstanding!

K&R

It will be the Courts.

[Laughing Mirror]

18. Thank You Asian-, Mexican-, African-Americans!

This is heartening news. We are all in this together.

[FreeState]

21. I agree it's great news, we need to work together n/t

[Starry Messenger]

19. Yes! n/t

[AntiFascist]

20. K&R...

Sorry for the dupe, I didn't see this...but its so important that it doesn't hurt to repeat it.

Remember, tomorrow is a national day of protest :yourock:

[FreeState]

22. I didn't even see your dupe until now...

No worries the more that see it the better! Can't wait for tomarrow!

[madmadmad]

23. yippie! we have a broad coalition!

[Karenina]

25. That coalition has BEEN THERE. Prop 8 provided the kick it needed to

MOBILIZE!

[Fluffdaddy]

24. Great news

[kitkatrose]

27. K & R.

I wonder why this thread doesn't have nearly the response that some others do?

[HamdenRice]

29. But, but, but ... the black is teh evil !!!

"Blacks are teh enemeez !!!"

"How can we call for a vote to bring back teh slavery if NAACP supported teh marriage eguality???"

"That can't be ... ALL teh blacks are ignorant religious fundamentalists!!!"

:sarcasm:

[Le Taz Hot]

30. Excellent!

These are key, critical groups with a long-time infrastructure and years of challenging discriminatory laws through the legal system. This is REALLY good news.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Karenina]

34. Sunday kick!

:kick: