New Orleans, LA
The AFL-CIO has long supported affirmative action as an effective way to promote diversity and to remedy past and present discrimination. At our most recent convention, we strongly reaffirmed our commitment to affirmative action and vowed to fight those attempting to eliminate this important achievement of the civil rights movement.
Today, the battleground on this issue has moved to Florida, where ultra-conservative forces are circulating a ballot initiative that would repeal affirmative action in public education, employment and contracting. In addition, Governor Jeb Bush has issued an executive order repealing affirmative action in state education, contracting and employment as part of his so-called "One Florida" initiative.
In response to these attacks, a broad coalition of civil rights leaders and activists in Florida have formed Floridians Representing Equity and Equality (FREE), which is circulating a counter-initiative that would preserve affirmative action. The Florida AFL-CIO and the civil rights coalition are also taking direct action to challenge Governor Bush's "One Florida" initiative, including a planned march and rally on the opening day of the state legislature and a highly publicized sit-in at the lieutenant governor's office by Florida AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Tony Hill and his fellow state legislator, Kendrick Meek. This fight has just begun, and the American labor movement must lend its support to the Florida labor movement in its efforts to defend affirmative action.
The AFL-CIO therefore:
Condemns ultra-conservative forces for circulating a divisive and misleading ballot initiative in Florida aimed at repealing affirmative action;
Condemns Florida Governor Jeb Bush for repealing affirmative action through executive order;
Applauds the Florida labor movement and Floridians Representing Equity and Equality for their work to save affirmative action; and
Urges unions and union members everywhere to lend their support to their union brothers and sisters in Florida and throughout the country who are mobilizing to preserve affirmative action.