VOTE NO ON THE RACE INFORMATION BAN!

(Proposition 54)

When Californians go to the polls on October 7 to decide whether to remove Gov. Gray Davis from office, they will also vote on a measure that if approved, would prevent the state, including public colleges, from collecting and using information on race and ethnicity.

Known as CRECNO (Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color or National Origin) and backed by Ward Connerly, the University of California regent who successfully promoted referendums in California and Washington to ban affirmative action, the measure was originally scheduled to appear on the primary election ballot in March 2004.

But under state law, the measure must be on the next statewide ballot, which is now slated for October 7. The special recall election was certified for the ballot recently. The shift left supporters and opponents of the referendum only11 weeks to mount their campaigns.

Passage of CRECNO would have dire consequences for all Californians, particularly affecting public health, education and civil rights enforcement. The University of California's Board of Regents voted overwhelmingly in May to oppose the referendum. The governing board of the state's community colleges also agreed to oppose the measure.

Researchers have also come out against the measure, saying that without the data, they will be unable to study discrimination and stratification in  health, housing, and education.

For more information on this initiative contact the Coalition for an Informed California at 510 452-3552 or log on to website at: www.informedcalifornia.org