Arizona Voters Pass Proposition 107 Eliminating Equal Opportunity

Proposition 107, a ballot initiative to amend the Arizona constitution to eliminate equal opportunity programs, such as affirmative action, in public higher education, employment and contracting, was passed by voters (60 percent to 40 percent) on November 2. 

It was sponsored by California businessman and millionaire Ward
Connerly, who has backed similar measures in other states since the
mid-1990s.  After failing in 2008 to qualify the initiative for the
Arizona ballot due to insufficient voter support, Connerly circumvented
the voters and had the state legislature place it on this year’s ballot
for him. 

Protect Arizona’s Freedom, a coalition supporting equal opportunity,
made up of civil rights organizations, business and community leaders,
and elected officials, worked in the state to inform voters of the
harmful effects of Proposition 107 and of Connerly’s history of using
fraudulent and misleading tactics in his efforts to qualify these
initiatives for ballots in other states. 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights firmly believes
in equal opportunity, and is fully committed to continued work with
Arizonans to advance a civil and human rights agenda in Arizona.