The coalition consists of a broad array of organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), California State Conference of NAACP Branches (California NAACP), California League of United Latin American Citizens (California LULAC), the California Urban League, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Asian Law Caucus, La Raza Centro Legal, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the Bay Area (LCCR), United Farm Workers (UFW), and numerous local organizations.

The coalition was founded following Governor Gray Davis's veto of SB 78, commonly known as the "DWB Bill" (Driving While Black or Brown Bill). That bill required law enforcement to collect data regarding the race and ethnicity of people stopped by the police, so that it would be possible to determine whether and to what extent law enforcement agencies are discriminating against motorists of color. The bill passed by a two-thirds majority in the California Legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis, who claimed that he did not believe that racial profiling is a serious problem in California. The bill was reintroduced by Senator Kevin Murray (SB 1389) on January 24th.

"Governor Davis' veto was an insult to people of color in California," said Michelle Alexander, Director of the Racial Justice Project of the ACLU. "If Governor Davis doesn't know that racial profiling is a serious problem in this state, then he doesn't know the people he claims to represent. On the other hand, if Governor Davis does know that racial profiling is a serious problem, he apparently lacks the moral and political courage to do something about it. Either way, we refuse to accept his veto."

"Racial profiling is not a figment of our imagination," said Walter Wilson, Legislative Director of the California NAACP. "There are few African American men alive today who haven't been affected in some way by this serious problem. If Governor Davis thinks that we are going to forget this veto, he's wrong. We won't rest until discriminatory police practices are part of the distant past. The question is what side of history Governor Davis wants to be on."

"Governor Davis attempted to soften the impact of his unjustified veto by encouraging law enforcement agencies to collect the data 'voluntarily,'" said Van Jones, Executive Director of Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. "His message to law enforcement was loud and clear: Protecting the civil rights of people of color is optional. We disagree. Protecting the civil rights of all people should be mandatory."

Townhall meetings regarding racial profiling and Governor Davis' veto are planned in cities across California, including San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, Monterey, Los Angeles and San Diego. "We are organizing townhall meetings throughout California to give a voice to Latinos, African-Americans and others who have been targeted and harassed by law enforcement on the basis of race," said Marcos Contreras, Statewide Director of California LULAC. "Latinos are routinely targeted by law enforcement, whether they live in the cities or rural areas. Governor Davis turned his back on Latinos last year, by refusing to sign the bill. He has a second chance to do the right thing, and we will be watching him."

On April 27, 2000, the coalition is sponsoring a demonstration at the State Capitol in Sacramento, demanding that Governor Davis sign SB 1389 when it reaches his desk this year. "We are organizing a demonstration at the State Capitol to demonstrate the political power of our communities, and to send Governor Davis the message that we will not tolerate his deliberate indifference," said Renee Saucedo, a staff attorney at La Raza Centro Legal.

"The only good thing about Governor Davis' veto is that it inspired the formation of this new, powerful coalition," said Michelle Alexander. "The collective power of communities of color has been grossly underestimated. But like a sleeping giant, we are waking up. Ready or not, here we come."

Note: Other Town Hall meetings are being organized throughout California and we will send you the dates once they are confirmed.