Panic from Detroit takes the long bus to Lansing
Detroit residents have once again demonstrated to the Nation that lawlessness and unruly behavior is our signature in the Motor City. Two busloads of Detroit high school students showed up in Lansing on Wednesday to put pressure on the Board of Canvassers as they met to certify the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI), an anti-affirmative action proposal, for the November 2006 ballot. The initiative, if voted into action by the public, would amend the Michigan State Constitution and would dismantle the use of affirmative action in hiring and college admissions.The kids, who were riled up by some extreme leftist advice, joined the group By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) to disrupt the Board's meeting and infiltrate on the voting process. They shouted protests to the proposal. They stood on chairs and yelled, "They say Jim Crow. We say, hell no." They argued that they should be able to go to college, too, and that the proposal, if voted on next November, would prohibit their opportunities.
It's not clear why the demonstrators were under the impression that they wouldn't be allowed to go to college without an affirmative action ruling in place. Hard work, good grades and a means to pay gets anybody into college, regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation.
What is clear is that the demonstrators contaminated and dishonored a Constitutional process in an unprecedented way. "I have never in my 20 years of service seen such anarchy and lawlessness," said Board of Canvassers member Lynn Banks to Frank Beckman in a WJR radio interview.
In the end, the four members of the Board did not approve the initiative for the 2006 ballot. Two members, including Banks, followed the letter of the law and voted Yes. One member did not vote at all, and the other voted No. The entire Board is now in breach of a court order and must reconvene to put the initiative on the 2006 ballot. Banks said she will not meet again unless there is lawful order and a consensus beforehand that all members of the Board will follow the law.
The MCRI received enough Michigan voter signatures to get on the ballot. Keeping it off the ballot breaks the law. Leaning on appointed officials who are by law required to follow through is scummy. This was an obvious attempt to delay the initiative from being certified for the ballot.
BAMN rallied those kids and adulterated the intent of this State's Constitution. What's more is that the organization taught dozens of naive Detroit students to disrespect the law and due process. If BAMN was so motivated about this initiative, why weren't they organizing responsible protests when signatures were being collected for the MCRI? Why weren't they shouting then? It's too late now. MCRI will get on the ballot eventually, and the State's entire voting population will decide the outcome of affirmative action in Michigan. If BAMN is seriously concerned about those kids' futures, they should teach them about the importance of voting.
posted by tanagrame @ 7:08 AM
2 Comments:
They just did't have enough stupidity in Lansing. They needed to import it from Detroit.
Where did they get the buses, and how did they get out of school?
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