Campaigns

"Arizona Civil Rights Initiative" files petitions despite massive racially-targeted voter fraud
BAMN pursues lawsuit and campaign to keep ACRI off ballot

The "Arizona Civil Rights Initiative" (ACRI) campaign submitted its petition signatures today in an effort to qualify for the November 2008 ballot, despite having obtained its signatures through pervasive racially-targeted voter fraud and criminal violations of Arizona election law.

"We are certain that ACRI will be disqualified," said Shanta Driver, national chair of BAMN. "We have amassed evidence, including from petition circulators themselves who are willing to step forward, of ACRI's pervasive racially-targeted voter fraud and criminal violations of Arizona election law. We will pursue our civil lawsuit. We also call on Attorney General Terry Goddard and Governor Janet Napolitano to launch an independent investigation." . . .

BAMN files lawsuit against "Arizona Civil Rights Initiative"!

Arizona Republic coverage: "Group fights affirmative-action ban"

Former Phoenix City Councilman Calvin C. Goode, defrauded Latina/o and black Arizona citizens, and the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) will file suit in state court Monday morning to stop the fraudulent "Arizona Civil Rights Initiative" (ACRI) from getting on the ballot.

"Tens of thousands of Latina/o, black, and Native American citizens of Arizona were defrauded and led to believe that by signing the 'American Civil Rights Initiative' (ACRI) they were banning racial discrimination and advancing the dreams of their children to have a better future," said Shanta Driver, National Chair of BAMN and an attorney. "They are angry that the ACRI stole their signatures as support for a petition whose sole aim is to eliminate affirmative action, which is the only way that their children will have an equal chance for a future. The duly elected public officials of Arizona have a duty to protect them, their children, all the citizens of Arizona, and democratic norms from systematic, racially-targeted voter fraud."

Get more info and read BAMN's lawsuit HERE

The BAMN Committee to Stop ACRI has launched a new Fraud Finder website with extensive video documenting the extensive, systematic voter fraud, physical assaults, and other illegal tactics that we are uncovering in the anti-affirmative-action ACRI campaign. ACRI is using deceptively-worded ballot language, signature gatherers who lie about the intent and results of the proposed initiative, and teams of well-paid out-of-state petitioners who are dishonestly representing themselves as Arizonans. The Arizona backers of the deceptively-named "Arizona Civil Rights Initiative" and their out-of-state political and financial backers are using tactics that echo the old Jim Crow—to establish the new Jim Crow in Arizona.

Forward this page to everyone you know. Demand that the news media in your area cover the Connerly campaign's fraud. The fraud and irregularities in Arizona are surely being replicated in the other states facing potential Connerly initiatives: Colorado and Nebraska.

Also, you yourself may be able to advance BAMN's investigation: check the new Fraud Finder site again in the next couple of days for the new "Faces of Fraud" section, where we will post up the faces of ACRI circulators. If you have seen any of them outside of Arizona, let us know. Out-of-state circulators are not allowed to circulate the ACRI, and any evidence that a circulator is from out-of-state invalidates all of that circulator's signatures.

Members of the media: if you would like a DVD copy of this footage, contact the BAMN COMMITTEE TO STOP ACRI at (602) 579-1370 or stopacri@gmail.com.

UPDATE FROM ARIZONA:
Successful speakout and press conference!

The BAMN Committee to Stop ACRI held a joint press conference with former Phoenix Councilman Calvin C. Goode and elected city officials, calling upon the community to unite against the ACRI's fraudulent petition campaign. KTAR ran a good article. (Photo from KTAR)

Watch the PRESS CONFERENCE.

UPDATE FROM ARIZONA:
¡Marcha!

The BAMN Committee to Stop ACRI held a successful press conference June 13 which got coverage from several television stations, giving us an opportunity to let the community know not to sign the ACRI's fraudulent petitions. See the KFYI news article.

Also watch the successful march on June 14. Residents stepped out of their homes and drove by honking their horns, showing support. We got out hundreds of flyers alerting the community that if you see an ACRI circulator in your neighborhood, drive them away! We must use our First Amendment rights to make sure no fraud is perpetrated in our communities! See the MARCH FOOTAGE and watch the SPEECHES.