Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA)

KZSU-FM Garam Chai
October 18, 2003
http://kzsu.stanford.edu/~hottea/guests.htm

Bhavna and Rajiv from ASATA participated in a half hour discussion about Proposition 54 and its potential impacts on the South Asian community on Garam Chai, a popular South Bay Indian radio program.

This letter to the editor appeared in the October 1, 2003, issue of India Currents. It was selected as the best letter for the month.

NO ON PROPOSITION 54

Coverage of California’s upcoming election has focused mostly on the gubernatorial recall, but there’s another part of the ballot that our community needs to be aware of.

India-West
"South Asian Group Campaigns Against Prop. 54"
September 12, 2003

OAKLAND, Calif. -- A number of South Asian activists, who have gathered under the umbrella group of Concerned Desis Against Prop. 54, held a kickoff event Sept. 4 to launch an awareness campaign about the harmful effects of the Oct. 7 California ballot proposition, according to a press release.

Proposition 54, if passed, would make it illegal for state and local agencies to collect data on race or ethnicity, or even to examine data from other sources, such as the federal census. This would apply to public schools, hospitals, and law enforcement, as well as to other agencies. The proposition is up for vote Oct. 7, along with the gubernatorial recall.

This op-ed was published in the Sikh Sentinel

OP-ED
Vote No on 54!
Birjinder Singh

September 11, 2003: California

With all the media hoopla surrounding the gubernatorial recall vote, a little-known initiative will also be voted upon on October 7. This initiative, known as Proposition 54, spells bad news for Sikhs in California.

Thursday, September 4, 2003, Oakland: Concerned Desis Against Prop. 54, a Bay Area South Asian coalition group formed to disseminate information in the community about the harmful effects of Proposition 54, held their kickoff event here tonight. Proposition 54, or The Information Ban, is an initiative on the California ballot on October 7, which would make it illegal for state and local agencies, including public schools, hospitals, and law enforcement to collect data on race or ethnicity or even to examine data from other sources, such as the federal census.

ASATA was a convening member of the Concerned Desis Against 54 coalition, brought together quickly before the October 2003 California state election. Although overshadowed by the gubernatorial race involving Arnold Schwarzenegger, communities of color were able to successfully mobilize to help in Proposition 54's defeat.

We are concerned desis who stand opposed to Proposition 54, the Information Ban. This initiative would make it illegal for state and local agencies, including public schools, hospitals, and law enforcement to collect data on race or ethnicity or even to examine data from other sources, i.e. the federal census. If passed, this initiative would have devastating impacts on the South Asian community, particularly in the areas of health and civil rights.

ASATA members wrote this piece for the September 2003 issue of Siliconeer magazine.

Vote No! on Prop 54
by Birjinder Anant and Bhavna Shamasunder.

An initiative on the Oct. 7 is receiving little press, but has potentially tremendous consequences for the lives of all Californians. Proposition 54 advocates statewide censorship — a ban on racial and ethnic data collection throughout the state. If enacted, Proposition 54 (CRECNO—Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color, National Origin) would censor essential data collection on public health, employment discrimination, racial profiling, education, and consumer protection. If passed, this initiative would have devastating impacts on the South Asian community, particularly in the areas of health and civil rights.