By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
There are some principles we like to think America settled a long time ago. Racial discrimination is wrong. Government should not treat people differently because of the color of their skin. And our public institutions should judge individuals based on their merit and character – not their race. Unfortunately, those previously settled principles have been completely undermined by the radical “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) program.
This November, Arizona voters will have an opportunity to reaffirm that principle by voting YES on Proposition 142. The measure would strengthen Arizona’s constitutional protections against race-based discrimination and preferential treatment, close an existing loophole tied to federal funding, and prohibit some of the craftier ways public institutions have used to preserve race-based DEI policies and practices.
Isn’t Racial Discrimination Already Illegal?
Most people already believe it is unlawful for the government to discriminate based on race – and didn’t Arizona already prohibit it anyway?
Arizonans certainly thought they had.
In 2010, voters passed Proposition 107 by an almost 20-point margin, amending the state constitution to prohibit the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any person based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, and public contracting.
This should have closed the door on government-sanctioned racial preferences in Arizona.
Unfortunately, it didn’t…
