Proposition 300 punishes children, most of which are US citizens, denies access to education, eliminates the ability for non-English speakers to learn English, and impedes hard working students the ability to better their lives and increase their education by restricting their access to higher education.
About Proposition 300
Local Activists Decry Prop. 300
10/31/06 | Tucson Citizen
Students gathered at the University of Arizona Monday for an anti-Proposition 300 rally a week before voters go to the polls.
About two dozen UA and Pima Community College students rallied alongside elected and school officials.
Come Nov. 7, Arizonans will vote on the measure that would make adult education, subsidized child care and other state-funded services available only to U.S. citizens or those who are here legally.
Though supporters have said tax dollars should benefit citizens and legal residents only, Lorraine Lee, executive vice president of Chicanos Por La Causa, said the measure is "mean-spirited."
"The issue is immigration and paranoia," Lee said during the rally at UA. "All we are asking for is a fair chance to be treated as human beings."
UA Latin American studies junior J.J. Federico said the measure "would make schoolteachers and administrators into would-be immigration officers."
Federico, university relations chair for MEChA also said "education is not just for the privileged few." MEChA stands for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán.
Proposition 300 supporters say the measure follows up on 2004's voter-approved Proposition 200, which made proof of U.S. citizenship a requirement for people registering to vote.
Supporters also say this year's measure would save taxpayer dollars by restricting government programs and services to citizens and legal residents only.
Yesterday's rally organizers don't agree.
"It's a racist law. It's meant to hurt more than it is meant to help," said Claudia Valdez, 22, a UA French and Spanish major.
Valdez was among those who signed a letter urging UA President Robert N. Shelton to get involved if the measure passes. After the rally, about 20 participants marched to his office to deliver the letter.
Shelton had stopped by several minutes before the rally to show his support for their activism.
Valdez said such work is necessary because the proposition has the potential to harm more than the Hispanic population.
"It's going to cause greater fear among the Latino community," she said. "And once you can target one group, it's easier to target another minority population."