"Mr. Jackson’s group is challenging in court on Jan. 6 the city’s Board of Elections and Ethics decision not to hold a referendum on the matter. Councilman Catania opposes putting the matter to a popular vote. He noted that in a referendum in 1865, only 36 of the city’s residents voted to extend the franchise to African-American men.
“It isn’t that I’m fearful of losing,” Mr. Catania said. “I think the process is diminishing. I think that putting the rights of minorities on the ballot and allowing the forces of intolerance to spend an unlimited amount to demonize and marginalize a population is unsavory.”
I'd say if they accede to the demand for a popular vote, that the courts should simply roll back all rights not won by such popular acclaim. The voting rights of woman, blacks, the unpropertied, and all Native Americans would be on the chopping block as would, no doubt, many more.
218th birthday of the Bill of Rights is today, by the way. I have the awful feeling that even the 1st Amendment wouldn't win a plebiscite in Fox News's America.
"Politicians on the city council are acting as if they have the right through legislation to deprive citizens of D.C. of their core civil right to vote, but we will not let them get away with it," said Brian Brown, the organization's executive director.
Funny. The impression I got is that activists everywhere are acting as if they have the right through legislation to deprive citizens of their core civil right to happiness.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-15 09:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-15 09:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-16 01:59 am (UTC)From the NYT article
Date: 2009-12-15 10:03 pm (UTC)“It isn’t that I’m fearful of losing,” Mr. Catania said. “I think the process is diminishing. I think that putting the rights of minorities on the ballot and allowing the forces of intolerance to spend an unlimited amount to demonize and marginalize a population is unsavory.”
I'd say if they accede to the demand for a popular vote, that the courts should simply roll back all rights not won by such popular acclaim. The voting rights of woman, blacks, the unpropertied, and all Native Americans would be on the chopping block as would, no doubt, many more.
218th birthday of the Bill of Rights is today, by the way. I have the awful feeling that even the 1st Amendment wouldn't win a plebiscite in Fox News's America.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-16 01:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-16 12:21 pm (UTC)Funny. The impression I got is that activists everywhere are acting as if they have the right through legislation to deprive citizens of their core civil right to happiness.