Media Conference:
11:00AM, Thursday, July 31, 2003
Steps of the Chinese Hospital, San Francisco
845 Jackson Street (cross street Stockton)
Contacts:
Yvonne Lee, Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum
415-954-9988, x328
Ted Wang, Chinese for Affirmative Action
415-274-6750, x306
Background:
Asian Pacific Americans in four California cities will announce the formation of a statewide coalition to oppose Proposition 54, the initiative proposed by Ward Connerly to prohibit state and local agencies from collecting data on race, ethnicity, and national origin. Led by leaders in public health, medicine, civil rights, and business, the Asian Pacific American Coalition for an Informed California plans to launch a statewide campaign to help Asian Pacific Americans understand the harmful impact of Proposition 54. The initiative is scheduled to be voted upon during the October 7, 2003 special election.
"By blocking access to almost all information about race or ethnicity, the initiative will increase discrimination and have a severe impact on healthcare, public safety, education, and civil rights," said Yvonne Lee, former member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
"There are significant differences in health status, dietary habits and healthcare between racial and ethnic groups," said Alice Chen, a physician with the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. "Proposition 54 blinds us to real differences that affect public health. By prohibiting the collection of race data in healthcare, it will be harder to develop effective methods to treat and prevent diseases which disproportionately affect certain communities." For example, a recent University of California Irvine study of 828 Vietnamese Americans adults in Orange County found that 13% had hepatitis B and 69% had been exposed to it, a rate that far exceeds those in the general population. Proposition 54 would prohibit public agencies, including research institutions such as the University of California, from collecting this type of data to provide a better understanding of the health problems faced by specific ethnic communities.
Proposition 54 will also harm Californians by eliminating the collection of data used to investigate anti-discrimination claims and hate crimes. "The initiative will end the state's ability to effectively enforce civil rights laws and make it easy for groups and individuals to practice discrimination," said Ted Wang, Policy Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. Wang also observed that the Asian community has been a constant target for hate crimes, particularly since September 11th. "Banning the collection of information will only mean that our communities will suffer, while enforcement agencies have their hands tied and won't be able to effectively investigate or prevent hate crimes."
"The Asian business community is strongly opposed to Proposition 54," said Darlene Mar, with the Council of Asian American Business Associations. "The initiative bans information needed to ensure that government contracting is fair and open to our community. More broadly, we should not bury our heads in the sand about race and discrimination. We need data to enforce laws and to hold government and private businesses accountable."
Proposition 54 was originally supposed to be on the next statewide ballot in March 2004. Because a special election will be held on October 7th to allow voters to consider recalling Governor Gray Davis, Proposition 54 will appear on that ballot unless a court orders otherwise.
