3-30-2004

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox puts personal anti-affirmative action political agenda above Michigan's voters

BAMN vows to oppose Cox Appeal
 

The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) will file a motion to dismiss Attorney General Mike Cox's unauthorized appeal of Judge Paula J. M. Manderfield's decision ordering the Michigan State Board of Canvassers to rescind their approval of the deceptive anti-civil rights, anti-affirmative action petition being put forward by Ward Connerly and the so-called Michigan Civil Rights Initiative.

Attorney General Cox's decision to appeal puts the Attorney General's personal anti-affirmative action political agenda above the interests of the voting electorate of Michigan. If successful, it would give Ward Connerly the right to lie to Michigan voters for the purpose of abrogating the Equal Protection Clause of the Michigan Constitution. Judge Manderfield's decision struck down the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative ballot petition because it violated the law by failing to tell the people of Michigan that the aim of the petition is to amend and abrogate Michigan's current anti-discrimination civil rights protections.

Last week, the Attorney General promised to consult with the Board of Canvassers before appealing. He did not do so. Judge Manderfield's decision strengthened the authority of the Michigan State Board of Canvassers, a regulatory agency, to protect the people of Michigan's right to fair, open and honest elections. The State Board of Canvassers - Attorney General Mike Cox's clients - are likely to oppose appealing Judge Manderfield's decision.

The Attorney General is attempting to reduce the Board of Canvassers to a rubber stamp, unable to decide whether or not to appeal and unable to assure that the citizens are not lied to in the petitioning process.

"Attorney General Mike Cox is putting politics before the right of Michigan's voters to know the truth," said George Washington, attorney for BAMN. "The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) and other plaintiffs will file motions to dismiss this unauthorized appeal and to disqualify the Attorney General from any further attempts to represent the Board of Canvassers in matters relating to the petitions filed by the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative.

"Attorney General Mike Cox has a clear conflict of interest in this matter," said BAMN National Co-Chair Luke Massie. "He should drop this appeal and should recuse himself now. This is not the first time that the Attorney General's virulent anti-affirmative action bias has interfered with his ability to carry out the duties and responsibilities of his elected office."

Last year, Attorney General Cox refused a direct order from the Governor to file an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of affirmative action at the University of Michigan. Today, he did not even consult his client, the Board of Canvassers, before filing this appeal in opposition to affirmative action.