Tuesday, October 22, 1996
PROTEST:
Stand up to keep affirmative action programs in CaliforniaBy
Stacy Hae Lim Lee
Okay, so you know that affirmative action is a good thing and
you have long conversations with your friends about why it is a
good thing and why all those myths are just lies to promote the
right wing agenda.
But you think that going to a demonstration is just not you.
Those people who go to demonstrations are just rowdy, noise making,
complaining people as you think "what kind of a difference does it
make anyway?"
Well you’re right. It does absolutely no good to stand outside
and yell at some rich, powerful people who will do whatever they
want anyway. But that’s not how demonstrations at UCLA are.
The Affirmative Action Coalition works super duper hard to make
sure that our demonstrations are organized, safe and have a point
(the purpose of this march and rally is to get people to vote NO on
209, get it?) The reason why it is necessary to actually get your
body and your wonderful minds and voices out there (this Wednesday,
Oct. 23 ) is because those rich decision-making renegades sometimes
forget that we are around. It is because our POWER lies in our
NUMBERS. Wait I’ll say it one more time  our POWER lies in
our NUMBERS.
So what does Oct. 23, Proposition 209 and "Save Campbell Hall"
have to do with your POWER and affirmative action? What is all this
madness about? Well simply put, it is a day to protest the evil
Proposition 209 on this year’s ballot. Why is 209 evil? It is evil,
(for those of you who haven’t heard yet) because it will ELIMINATE
ALL PUBLIC AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA (that means
campus too). Did you get that ?
Yes, that means the Academic Advancement Program, the Women’s
Center, all ethnic organizations, outreach and retention programs
(SPEAR, MEChA Calmecac, RAIN, and ASP) and much much more.
Okay, so you know what 209 will do. Sounds pretty bad, huh?
Well, it is, but some of you still haven’t figured out how you
"stand" on affirmative action yet.
Hmm … there’s not that much more time for you to stall. You
can’t put off making that decision anymore, we said it last year
when the regents took away race and gender from admissions and
hiring. That was also the time when they said they would increase
outreach and recruitment efforts to make up for it . Yes, Regent
Connerly is the one who said that they would increase outreach
programs and yes, he is the same one who is the chair of the
pro-209 campaign. So yes, he was lying, he was helping the authors
write the lie in the same breath that he was lying to us. Does
something have to be taken away from you to realize how important
it is?
There are also those of you out there who think that
demonstrations and "protests" are not the way to get what you want.
Be rational and work within the system  progress comes from
within … Well, let’s take a refresher course on the civil rights
movement and victories on campus and in the community from working
within the system … uh … can you think of any? I can’t.
Irrational, (so they say) passionate, loud yet very organized
demonstrations and campaigns have gotten us numerous victories
throughout history.
Rosa Parks was a brave woman who is well known for refusing to
sit in the back of the bus. The story is often conveyed as an
individual taking a stand, but that’s not how it happened. Her
actions were a part of an elaborate plan to help win civil rights
for Africans in America. The bus boycott along with constant
demonstrations, lasted for one year until November of 1956 when the
Supreme Court decided that it was illegal to discriminate on buses.
In 1964 African-American students at UCLA demonstrated because
there were not enough African-American students on campus and they
got the Educational Opportunity Program from the university (which
was combined with the High Potential Program into what is now AAP).
In 1993 some of you may remember the successful hunger strike for
Chicana/o studies on our campus. In 1989 hundreds of students
protested for the tenure of Don Nakanishi, now the director of the
nationally acclaimed Asian-American studies center.
Demonstrating is a way for us to show our POWER. Remember, our
POWER is in our NUMBERS. Many times we can feel alone when we are
entangled in this mainstream world which forgets about civil and
human rights so often. Demonstrations also help your power. It lets
you know that you are not alone. There actually are people who care
about social justice and who are willing to do something about it.
And again, you were right when you said demonstrating isn’t enough
(you’re smarter than you think) so that’s why it is important to
get involved in the struggle to save affirmative action, sign up
for a precinct walk (going door to door in the community, talking
to people about the ills of 209 Â every weekend before
elections) and tell as many people as humanly possible to vote No
on 209. We cannot let the victories of those who demonstrated and
organized and sacrificed before us slip away.
Class is important and I’m not telling you to not go. But hey,
let’s be real, we all know that we miss class every now and then.
We’ve all woken up late, gotten lazy or found something a little
more enticing than class  sometimes anything else will do,
but this time there’s actually a good reason not to go. The
dismantling of years of hard work and struggle ought to persuade
those reluctant to miss class, to show up. We can plan ahead and
turn in assignments early and do what we need to stay in this
university.
Remember, everyone cannot vote out there. Those of us who can,
have the responsibility to vote for those who cannot as well. But
those of us who cannot vote can show up on Wednesday to voice your
support for affirmative action.
Some tips for those first time demonstrators: 1) wear
comfortable clothes and shoes, it is a march not a fashion show; 2)
eat before you come, you won’t be able to pick anything up along
the route; 3) don’t be stupid  we don’t need anyone getting
hurt out there; 4) know your RIGHTS, bring your loudest voices and
don’t leave your passion at home, nobody likes a dull
demonstration; 5) most importantly, bring a friend with you.
Demonstrations are a powerful experience, it’s nice to share it
with your friends. So, one last time  Wednesday, Oct.23, at
10 a. m. in Westwood Plaza. Bring a buddy. Vote NO on 209!