Rainbow of civil rights groups petition CA court to halt enactment of Prop 8
by: Pam Spaulding
Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 08:00:00 AM EST
http://pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=14B14DD0664C0738B8577A32783F647A?diaryId=8239The idea that minority groups are monolithic about this issue needs to die a quick death now. This coalition of groups is taking action.
Civil rights groups today a petition with the California Supreme Court to stop the enactment of Proposition 8 because it would mandate discrimination against a minority group and did not follow the process required for fundamental revisions to the California Constitution.
In the petition, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Equal Justice Society, California NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. argue that in order to protect the fundamental rights of all Californians, a higher standard is required to overturn the right to marry. Minority communities cannot be stripped of their fundamental rights by a simple majority vote.
"We would be making a grave mistake to view Proposition 8 as just affecting the LGBT community," said Eva Paterson, president of the Equal Justice Society. "If the Supreme Court allows Proposition 8 to take effect, it would represent a threat to the rights of people of color and all minorities."
