Racist initiative targets bilingual, non-English voters

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Ignorance and hatred are obvious in the statements of "English-only" proponents like Stanley Diamond, chair of California U.S. English: "We have Hispanic politi -cians who have an unstated or hidden agenda to turn California into a bilingual, Ironically, the initiative contains not one penny for expanding English classes. In large urban areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose, adult education for people anxious to learn English or basic Contrary to racist stereotypes, which portray bilingual or non-English speaking people as a parasitic burden who refuse to learn English, a recent study shows that 98 percent of a group of Latino parents interviewed said it was essential for their children to read and write English well.

Proposition 63 is not just a misguided attempt to preserve English as a common language. Proponents of the initiative are expounding racist attitudes toward the many natives of and immigrants to California It fuels the exploitation of recent or undocumented immigrant workers. By building anti-immigrant bigotry, groups like the English First Committee and U.S.

English, hope to blame social problems such as unemployment, poor educational facilities, illiteracy, and low wages on a Scene from El Teatro Campesino's "I Don't Have to Show You No According to recent studies by both the Stinking Badges," written by Luis Valdez. El Teatro originated in conservative Heritage Foundation and the 1965 as a farmworkers' theater during the grape-pickers' strike in Rand Corporation, "Immigrants as a whole Delano, Calif. "Badges" completed a five-month run in Los Angeles improve the nation's production, pay taxes, and now goes on a national tour to Washington, D.C., and Jupiter, do not depress wages and use fewer services Fla. It opens in San Francisco after the first of the year.

Proposition 63 is similar to the California LaRouche AIDS initiative Pluency in a second language, whether it English, makes no reference to any because it masquerades as a common-sense be English, Spanish, Chinese or French, is scientific research. Rather they choose to solution to a real problem (the needs of not a betrayal of "American" allegiance. In utilize hateful and slanderous accusations. non-English speaking people, the AIDS fact, to be formally educated in this society For example, they claim that immigrant epidemic), but it is based on misin -requires at least three years course work in a students get their high-school diplomas formation and ignorance. These initiatives without learning decent English; that victimize already vulnerable and oppressed radical activists have been caught sneaking groups of people and pit them against the illegal immigrants to the polls on election Why is there such contempt toward the days and using bilingual ballots to cast Bilingual services are vitally needed in usage of non-English native languages? fraudulent votes; and that the National many areas of our society. Equality and The "logic" put forth by the authors and Education Association, the nation's largest justice are served best when people are proponents of this racist initiative, such as teacher's union, uses bilingual education as informed and educated, regardless of the the English First Committee and U.S. a means to force schools to hire more Group in Berkeley, Calif., water supplies government keeps the majority of the have been poisoned and diverted from both Hopis and Dineh from having any voice on livestock and residents. Fences have been a question affecting both nations' future. erected without consultation, and livestock Millions that could have been used to have been reduced to 10 percent of the fight unemployment or AIDS are being original level through confiscation and spent on destroying a people's way of life, and more is on the way. Although the The overall effect is to starve and forced removal is postponed, the National demoralize the remaining Dineh off the Guard hangs like an ax over the Dineh land. The number of BIA officials on the nation's head. The need for a broad land has doubled in the last few months. movement against relocation becomes more All government hearings on the relocation so far have been conducted without the consultation of the traditional If you want to help or want more leadership of either tribe. Elders are either information contact: Big Mountain Legal barred from hearings, or the hearings are Defense/Offense Committee, 2501 N. held in locations which make it impossible Fourth St. Suite 18, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, for the elders to attend. In this manner, the English speaking people.

Florida, and New York. other than English.

language other than English.

Racist motives only in English. bicultural state. language required. teachers and swell the union ranks. literacy skills is severely lacking. who don't speak English. convenient, powerless scapegoat.

than the national average." rest of the population. and more imperative.

Tel. (602) 774-5233.