Davis speaks against Prop. 209 at UCLA

Monday, October 21, 1996

PROP. 209:

Affirmative action rally begins a quarter-long drive to defeat
divisive ballot initiativeBy Ryan Ozimek

Daily Bruin Contributor

Returning to UCLA for the first time in over 25 years, Angela
Davis, former philosophy professor and now outspoken supporter of
affirmative action, addressed a crowd of 300 students last
Friday.

The rally, organized by the African Students Union (ASU) and
sponsored by NOMMO newsmagazine, the Panhellenic Council and other
student groups, was created to focus on Proposition 209 and the
possible end of affirmative action in California.

"If affirmative action is taken apart, we will begin to see the
institutional effects of racism and sexism even more than now,"
Davis said. "If we can successfully defeat Proposition 209, it
means we can better fight the dismantling of affirmative
action."

The crowd replaced the chanting and yelling that usually
accompanies such rallies by attentive silence as students listened
to Davis lash out against the initiative.

"We find ourselves in a sense of urgency," Davis said. "You’re
going to have to drop everything in order to keep what we have
after the elections."

During her speech, Davis asked for a count of those who would
vote against Proposition 209, and a flood of hands arose. She then
proceeded to ask if anyone would vote in favor of the initiative,
and after a few moments three hands slowly rose as the largely
anti-Proposition 209 crowd hissed and booed.

"What we’re witnessing are the developments that are part of the
conservative forces that are moving toward a society with closed
borders … and a massive prison industry," Davis said.

The controversial professor viewed the proposition not only as
an end to affirmative action, but also the end of a 30-year fight
for civil rights.

"This is an attempt to return to the days of male whiteness
order," Davis said.

"What we’ve learned from past history is that you can never take
anything for granted," Davis continued. "We can never ensure
ourselves that the victory we win will be etched in stone."

Throughout her speech, she repeatedly defended the principles of
affirmative action and their positive effects on society, noting
that the policy is not a "free handout" or "gift" available to only
a select few.

"All that affirmative action does is open doors," Davis said.
"It doesn’t make quotas or give preferential treatment," adding
that students admitted for athletic ability or alumni affiliation
do not face the same scrutiny as those who attend UCLA because of
affirmative action.

She also said that while affirmative action has made substantial
gains toward atoning for "hundreds of years of segregation and
racism," those evils still exist in today’s society and must be
eradicated.

"It’s true that affirmative action strategies belong to another
era, but we don’t need to throw away affirmative action. Instead,
we need to redress it and other issues," Davis said.

While most of the students attending the speech were against
Proposition 209, a few felt differently about the ballot item and
the afternoon’s speech.

"Although I thought she was an excellent speaker, I didn’t
necessarily agree with her message," said first-year undeclared
student Lauren Short.

ASU officials were pleased with the afternoon’s events.
"Everything went excellently," said Chad Williams, third-year
African American Studies student and vice-chairperson of ASU. "I
think there was an excellent turnout and I think a lot of people
took what she said to heart."

Williams said that Davis’ speech was one of many
anti-Proposition 209 events scheduled over the next three weeks in
order to build momentum against the initiative leading up to the
Nov. 5 election.

Throughout the quarter, ASU and other on-campus organizations
have gone on precinct walks through Los Angeles neighborhoods in
hopes of getting the word out about the campus anti-Proposition 209
campaign. Their activities will culminate this Wednesday in the
Affirmative Action Coalition’s mass action against the proposition
in Westwood Plaza.

"If we can successfully defeat Proposition 209, it means we can
better fight the dismantling of affirmative action together," Davis
said.

SUSIE CHU/Daily Bruin

Angela Davis, (center) a former UCLA philosophy professor,
returns to campus after 25 years and signs autographs after having
spoken out against Proposition 209 on Friday. See photos, page
3.