The state of Washington’s Initiative 200 is next round in the national struggle over affirmative action
Seattle — Activists seeking to roll back affirmative action
programs won a 1996 election victory in California, but stalled in
Houston in 1997. Now, they are seeking to jump-start their national
campaign with an initiative on the Washington state ballot this
November.
Initiative 200 would bar state and local governments from,
“discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex,
color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education,
and contracting.”
Its proponents advertise it as “The Washington State Civil Rights
Initiative.” A virtual replay of California’s Proposition 209, I-200
received $178,000 — money that helped fund paid signature gatherers —
from Prop 209 supporter Ward Connerly’s American Civil Rights Institute.
According to Michelle Ackerman, the communications director for NO!
200, anti-affirmative action forces have targeted Washington state to
re-start what is perceived to be a stalled national agenda.
“It’s very clear that’s what this would do,” she said.
John Carlson, the chairman of Yes on Initiative 200, said victory
would “hasten the pace of change, [although] change is coming anyway.”
