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Colorado Civil Rights Initiative Submits over 128,000 Signatures Placing Amendment on Ballot
“Voters will have an opportunity to end race and gender preferences”

Denver, CO. Today, Valery Pech Orr, Jessica Peck Corry, and other Colorado voters who support the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative were joined by Ward Connerly, nationally recognized advocate for equal rights, to announce the submission of 128,744 signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State.

The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative is a state constitutional amendment that will appear on the November 2008 ballot. A “Yes” vote on this initiative will ban all preferences based on race, gender, national origin, color, and ethnicity in state hiring, state contracting, and state education.

“I’m honored and delighted that Ward Connerly is joining us for this momentous occasion,” said Valery Pech Orr, CoCRI Proponent. “Ward’s support and guidance have been instrumental in CoCRI’s gathering this overwhelming number of signatures to put this important issue on the ballot.”

Jessica Peck Corry, CoCRI volunteer, added “For far too long, race and gender have been divisive forces in our state. This effort is about finally treating women and minorities like the equals that we are.”

Ward Connerly thanked supporters of the CoCRI and called on opponents for a fair and honest debate, “Many individuals have come forward and are supportive of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative which would restore fairness and equality to the state of Colorado.”

Connerly added, “With the nation’s eyes on Colorado and on other states poised to end the divisive policies of preferences, we are committed to a fair and honest debate on the important issue of restoring the promise of the 1964 Civil Rights Act - colorblind government. In other states where similar initiatives have passed, opponents have taken an obstructionist and deceptive approach of ‘any means necessary’ to confuse and manipulate voters. I am confident that if opponents of the CoCRI take this approach, the voters of Colorado, just like the voters of California, Washington in Michigan, will see through these divisive tactics and vote overwhelmingly for the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative.”

The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative (CoCRI) is dedicated to giving the people of Colorado the opportunity to end preferential treatment based on race, gender, ethnicity, or national origin by state and local governments. CoCRI will make Colorado a place of equal opportunity for all, not a state that uses preferential treatment as a tool to create "diversity." Achieving "diversity" should never be an excuse to discriminate!

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