"No on Proposition 54" Forum

NFYD members with panelists. Stacy Green, Kim Baker, Marla Bleavins, Brent Tilley, Shakari Cameron, Bernard Ussery, Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Samara Ashley, Margurite LaMotte, Tyrone Freeman, Al Austin,and Elliot Petty.

On October 1, 2003, New Frontier Young Democrats hosted a "No on Proposition 54" forum. The event was held at the Seely G. Mudd Building on the campus of the University of Southern California. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke and Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Marguerite LaMotte were among the panelists who discussed the divisive issue that was on the October 7, 2003 ballot.

If passed, the initiative formally known as "Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color or National Origin" would have prohibited state and local governments "from using race, ethnicity, color or national origin to classify current or prospective students, contractors, or employees in public education, contract or employment operations."

This initiative would have affected various levels of government, public health and the educational system by restricting the collection of important race and ethnicity data, which could have lead to the erosion of basic civil rights protections. Health care, civic and religious organizations along with many federal, state and local elected officials voiced their opposition to Prop 54.

NFYD was active in encouraging members of the community to use the forum as a resource to educate themselves about this deceptive ballot measure.