Calif. students plan 'hot fall' for affirmative action

by Marilyn Bechtel

This article was reprinted from the September, 9,1995 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- As fall classes start, students, faculty and staff of the University of California are gearing up to protest the Board of Regents' July 20 vote to eliminate affirmative action programs in admissions, hiring and contracts.

At U.C. Berkeley, the only campus with classes now in session, several recent demonstrations have already involved hundreds of students, faculty and staff. On Aug. 30, protesters marched through city streets in Berkeley, while a small group peacefully blocked the entrance to the student admissions office.

U.C. Student Association spokesperson Hatem Bazian told the World that protests and an all-day rally are planned at the next Board of Regents meeting, Sept. 14 on the U.C. San Francisco Laurel Heights campus, 3333 California Street. A mass teach-in on affirmative action is planned for Sept. 27 at U.C. Berkeley's Wheeler Auditorium.

Bazian, who had just returned from meeting in Los Angeles with a system-wide coalition of students, faculty and staff unions, said that starting Oct. 2, daily actions will lead up to a national campus mobilization and one-day shutdown of universities, colleges and high schools Oct. 12. Solidarity demonstrations are already slated for campuses in Michigan, Wisconsin, New York and Colorado.

Backing the university actions are community coalitions and organizations including Californians for Affirmative Action, Californians for Justice, the Rainbow Coalition, civil rights, trade union and religious organizations. "We're working to link up with all parts of the community," said Bazian. Also participating are students, faculty and staff from the state university and community college systems, and many high school students.

The Alameda County Central Labor Council has announced an open conference to be held Nov. 11 on affirmative action and building toward the 1996 elections. Ronald Dellums (D-Calif.) is expected to be the keynote speaker.

Owen Marron, executive secretary-treasurer of the Central Labor Council, said the council is going to do all it can to defeat the attack on affirmative action and expose Gov. Pete Wilson for his hypocrisy. "He has shown that he will do and say anything to get elected," Marron told the World.

Other conference sponsors include the Alameda County chapters of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement , the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

Meantime, the Million Voices for Justice Campaign has collected some 60,000 signatures on a statement pledging support for affirmative action. The movement, sparked by the Oakland-based Californians for Justice, is intensifying its activities around the Bay Area and spreading to Los Angeles. Campaign spokespersons say about 4,000 of the signers have volunteered to help gather signatures. Call (510) 452-2728.