One United Michigan also found a video early this month in which Connerly praises reports that the Ku Klux Klan supported Proposal 2. “If the Ku Klux Klan thinks equality is right, God bless them,” Connerly said in the interview. “Thank them for finally reaching the point where logic and reason are applying instead of hate.” The clip, taken from a documentary by John Valadez, was posted by One United Michigan on YouTube and widely distributed across the state in an effort to discredit Connerly and Proposal 2.
While state and local officials waited to analyze the demographics of Tuesday’s voting and determine the true impact on Proposal 2, the Citizens Research Council (CRC), a respected state think tank, issued its assessment ahead of the election.
“If the amendment is adopted, it will not outlaw all affirmative action programs in the state,” the CRC said. “Michigan statutes contain numerous references to affirmative action and minority status or gender. Only those that grant preferential treatment to individuals or groups on the basis of minority status or gender would be invalidated by this amendment. However, what constitutes preferential treatment will be left to the Michigan court system,” the research council concluded.
Proposal 2, approved by the voters 58 percent to 42 percent, according to AP, now heads to the courts for interpretation.
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