Welcome to ColoradoCRI.org!

The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative (CoCRI) is a proposed constitutional amendment that states: The state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any group or individual on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public contracting, or public education. The initiative will be on the November ballot as Amendment 46.

PRO: Vote for equal rights for every Coloradan

Charles King, professor emeritus of Spanish at the University of Colorado in Boulder, is a senior fellow at the Independence Institute, free-market think tank in Golden.

By CHARLES KING

Amendment 46 requires that in public employment, education and contracting Colorado state agencies treat all people equitably without regard to "race, gender, ethnicity, color or national origin." In short, Amendment 46 would make it illegal for our state government agencies to discriminate on the basis of race or gender.

That is essentially what both the "equal protection clause" of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article VII, Section (j) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 require of government agencies. The Civil Rights Act would not have been necessary had the national government not failed to enforce the requirements of the 14th Amendment, which passed a century earlier in 1864.

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The opponents of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative have attempted to spread disinformation about the measure. This paper discusses three of the major distortions: First, that CoCRI will ban all affirmative action; second, that CoCRI is not needed because there really are few if any programs in Colorado that grant preferences on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex; and, third, that CoCRI should not be passed so long as racism and discrimination still exist in Colorado. None of these assertions is true.

The Rock Mountain News held an online forum where everyday Coloradans could write in questions about Amendment 46 to Executive Director Jessica Corry. You can view the transcript of the Q & A below:

CLEAR CHANNEL PULLS ANTI-AMENDMENT 46 RADIO SPOTS;
FALSE IMPERSONATION, RACIALLY LOADED TERM AMONG ALLEGATIONS

DENVER - Clear Channel Radio has pulled anti-Amendment 46 advertisements from the airwaves of two Denver radio stations after complaints were lodged concerning misrepresentation, false impersonation, and the use of a racially loaded term.

"Our opposition has spread vicious, personal attacks throughout its campaign but this most recent effort took it to a whole new level with its racist undertones and false impersonation," said Jessica Peck Corry, executive director of the Amendment 46 campaign. "We applaud Clear Channel's decision."

According to Clear Channel officials, proponents of the spot now have the option to redesign it to comply with Clear Channel's advertising standards. The spot was scheduled to run on 850 KOA and KBCO 97.3 FM from October 28th until Election Day.

Race and the Election
by Linda Chavez

All fair-minded Americans understand that race should not be a factor in choosing our next president, so why should race continue to play a role in deciding who gets into college or receives a government contract or is hired or promoted in a government job? It makes no sense to argue that we're supposed to be colorblind in the polling booth but color-conscious in so many other areas.

On Election Day, voters in Colorado and Nebraska will have the opportunity to end this racial double standard by approving amendments to their state constitutions that will outlaw racial preferences in state education, contracting, and employment. Polls suggest that these ballot initiatives will pass easily. It's about time.

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Colorado CRI Executive Director Jessica Corry debates the merits of Amendment 46. Click the link below to view the entire debate.

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
For Immediate Release:

DENVER — The Colorado Secretary of State announced today that Initiative 82, a ballot initiative designed to preserve race and gender preferences in public hiring, public contracting, and public education, will not appear on this November's statewide ballot.

"We know that signature gathering campaigns are very difficult, but given the fact that this campaign was designed to confuse voters, we're extremely pleased with the result," said Jessica Peck Corry, executive director of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative (Amendment 46). "It's the right decision and we look forward to an election where voters will be able to have an honest conversation about the role of race and gender in government hiring, contracting, and education."

PRO: Colorado Amendment 46
Ward Connerly argues for the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, which would eliminate preferential treatment in the public arena.

Time for the truth on affirmative action
By Jessica Peck Corry
Thursday, July 17, 2008

As an overwhelming number of Coloradans say they support a ballot initiative to abolish race and gender preferences, an opposition campaign designed to confuse voters hinges on half-truths and deception. Don't be fooled.

The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, which will appear on this November's ballot as Amendment 46 and reflects a decade long citizen-led effort, prohibits the government from giving preferential treatment or discriminating against any person based on his or her race or gender in public education, public hiring and public contracting. Under current law, government entities, including the University of Colorado, regularly divide candidates based on these characteristics.

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Colorado Civil Rights Initiative Files SoS Complaint,
Launches Radio Advertisements About Initiative 82’s Campaign of Deception

DENVER—The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative (Amendment 46) announced today that it has begun a statewide radio advertising campaign designed to educate voters about deception being perpetuated by paid petition circulators for Initiative 82 (see attached MP3). In addition, CoCRI leaders have filed a formal complaint against Initiative 82 with the Colorado Secretary of State (letter attached).

“We undertook this two-part effort because voters need to know that they are being lied to by Initiative 82 petition circulators,” said CoCRI proponent Linda Chavez. “It’s clear that our opposition will stop at nothing to confuse or mislead voters. Before you sign, get the facts.”

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CoCRI URGES VOTERS NOT TO SIGN INITIATIVE #82;
MOVE COMES AFTER AUDIO RECORDING OF PETITION CIRCULATOR FRAUD

DENVER — The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative (Amendment #46) has obtained an audio recording of a petition circulator for a competing effort, Initiative #82, attempting to deceive a potential voter about the effects of both initiatives. At a press conference today, CoCRI leaders warned voters not to sign #82 petitions before getting the facts on both initiatives.

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SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFIES THE COLORADO CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE FOR NOVEMBER BALLOT
"Vote YES on amendment 46 to end race and gender preferences"

Denver, CO. – Today the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative received notice that the Secretary of State has determined that the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative has submitted enough signatures to gain access to the November ballot.

"I am delighted that the people of Colorado will have a chance to vote Yes for fairness and equality in November," said Valery Pech Orr, co-proponent of the initiative. Linda Chavez, also a proponent of the Initiative continued, "The people of Colorado will finally have the opportunity to say no to discrimination, ending the decades-long double standard that has been fostered by race- and gender-based preferences."

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Colorado Civil Rights Initiative Submits over 128,000 Signatures Placing Amendment on Ballot

“Voters will have an opportunity to end race and gender preferences”

Denver, CO. Today, Valery Pech Orr, Jessica Peck Corry, and other Colorado voters who support the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative were joined by Ward Connerly, nationally recognized advocate for equal rights, to announce the submission of 128,744 signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State.

The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative is a state constitutional amendment that will appear on the November 2008 ballot. A “Yes” vote on this initiative will ban all preferences based on race, gender, national origin, color, and ethnicity in state hiring, state contracting, and state education.

“I’m honored and delighted that Ward Connerly is joining us for this momentous occasion,” said Valery Pech Orr, CoCRI Proponent. “Ward’s support and guidance have been instrumental in CoCRI’s gathering this overwhelming number of signatures to put this important issue on the ballot.”

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Colorado Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Colorado Civil Rights Initiative

"Colorado is one step closer to ending state-sponsored discrimination through race preferences"

DENVER, Sept. 14 -- The Colorado Supreme Court upheld the Title Board decision and agreed that the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative language met all necessary requirements. With this ruling the people of Colorado will have the opportunity to petition the government and ultimately vote to end state-sponsored discrimination through race and gender preferences in the operation of public employment, public contracting, and public education.

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The CoCRI has been approved by the title board. However, just after the title board declared that the language of the amendment met all requirements set forth in the Colorado Constitution, opponents filed suit to try to block the people from having a chance to vote on this important issue. This move by our opponents was predictable, after all they believe the only chance they have to defeat the Initiative is to stop it from getting on the ballot. Shanta Driver, from By Any Means Necessarym, who is leading the opposition recently said, “We’ve got to stop these ballot petitions before they get on the ballot.” (CNS News Aug. 20, 2007 – Quota Backers Thwart Racial Progress…) We fully expect the Supreme Court to uphold the Title Board’s decision and allow the people to continue pursuing this ballot initiative.

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Colorado Civil Rights Initiative Coming to 2008 Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday April 23, 2007

Plans for Anti-Preferences Campaign Announced