For Immediate Release December 23, 2008	Contact: Eric Wagner (213) 747-7606, ext. 4427 Email: ewagner@naleo.org
CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR EFFORTS TO OVERCOME FLAWS IN NEW REDISTRICTING PROCESS CREATED BY PROP. 11
LOS ANGELES, CA – In the aftermath of the narrow passage of Proposition 11, five of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations today called on proponents of the measure to ensure that California carries out its new redistricting process in a fair, open and accountable manner. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, and the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) vigorously opposed Proposition 11 as a flawed initiative that would impede genuine redistricting reform. The organizations are seeking an implementation plan which addresses the serious problems created by flaws in the measure, including the prospect of a new redistricting commission which lacks gender, ethnic, or geographic diversity; a two-pronged redistricting process which will impede public participation; and problematic redistricting criteria which foreseeably jeopardizes minority electoral opportunities. “We believe Proposition 11 increases the risk of minority communities being divided during the redistricting process,” stated Stewart Kwoh, President and Executive Director of APALC. “Accordingly, the goal of all involved going forward should be to secure procedures that mitigate the negative impact of Proposition 11 on California’s minority communities.” “We are disappointed that California’s voters approved Proposition 11,” said John Payton, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF). “Proposition 11 is a fatally flawed redistricting measure because it does not protect the core values of diversity, accountability, and inclusion. While we will vigorously advocate for an inclusive process, we recognize that Proposition 11 will harm the ability of minority voters to elect a candidate of choice and reduce diversity in the redistricting decision making process.” “MALDEF opposed Proposition 11 because it risks turning back the clock on important electoral gains only recently made in minority communities,” said Nancy Ramirez, Western Regional Counsel. “We are closely monitoring its implementation to ensure that the voting rights of the Latino community are adequately protected.” “Proposition 11’s proponents offered assurances that the measures would not have a detrimental impact on the political progress of the state’s underrepresented communities,” stated Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the NALEO Educational Fund. “As the state moves forward to implement the initiative, we will hold the proponents accountable for these promises, and we are willing to work with them to overcome the barriers of transparency and public participation created by Proposition 11. The proponents must support procedures that will provide for the wide recruitment of commissioner candidates from California’s diverse communities. They must work for the coordination of the commission and state legislative line-drawing processes to ensure meaningful public participation in redistricting hearings.” “Proposition 11 changed the redistricting rules just as minorities started making gains in the State Legislature,” said WCVI President Antonio Gonzalez. “It will make it more difficult for historically disenfranchised Californians to participate in the process and threatens minority representation. Prop. 11 proponents repeatedly stated they would help guard against this scenario and WCVI will be holding them accountable.”
### About Asian Pacific American Legal Center The Asian Pacific American Legal Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for civil rights, providing legal services and education, and building coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. APALC is affiliated with the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, DC. About NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) is America’s legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarships and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of quality for all. About Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Founded in 1968, MALDEF the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships. For more information on MALDEF, please visit www.maldef.org. About NALEO Educational Fund The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service. The NALEO Educational Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose constituency includes the more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide. About William C. Velásquez Institute The William C. Velásquez Institute (WCVI) is a tax-exempt, non-profit, non-partisan public policy analysis organization chartered in 1985. The purpose of WCVI is to: conduct research aimed at improving the level of political and economic participation in Latino and other underrepresented communities; To provide information to Latino leaders relevant to the needs of their constituents; To inform the Latino leadership and public about political opinions and behavior of Latinos.
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