By Jesse Kuhnle
Members of Omaha’s Young Professionals Council, as well as members from other Omaha organizations, met Wednesday at the Magnolia Hotel to voice opposition against Initiative 424.
Initiative 424 would amend Nebraska’s state constitution and ban affirmative action. The initiative would end discrimination or preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.
“This piece of legislation is one of the most disgusting damn things ever brought into Nebraska,” said Dick Holland, philanthropist and chairman of the Building Bright Futures board. “Everyone in this room has in some way benefited from affirmative action.”
The Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative Web site said the fear is Initiative 424 would threaten academic and college scholarships, hamper college recruitment and setback gains made in student and faculty diversity. Funding for certain health programs such as women’s health initiatives would also be in jeopardy. The NCRI Web site also said the initiative would not end certain affirmative action programs.
Opponents to the initiative cite the use of “deceptive language” as a way to attract voters who are unaware of 424’s full impact. “A lot of people think that it’s actually to make quotas legal, things like that, but we don’t even have quotas in Nebraska,” Kirsten Case-Penrod, director of the Young Professionals Council, said. “It’s an attempt to change the constitution that shouldn’t be taken lightly.”
Diversity was a theme throughout the night as various speakers mentioned the importance of providing an equal chance for everyone. “When all Nebraskans have a chance to succeed, all Nebraskans benefit,” Danielle Nantkes of Nebraskans United said.
The diversity of the Nebraskan workforce is one area that could be affected by the passing of Initiative 424. “In order to compete in this global market place we have to use the resources that we have, and that’s the diversity of our people,” Omaha City Councilman Jim Suttle said.
Paul Bryant of Wesley House said diversity is a key to continued growth and success in Omaha. Bryant cited Gallup studies offering proof that “diverse teams win more.” Bryant also pointed to the effect diversity will have in the presidential election, where America will elect either its first African-American president or its first female vice president.
Supporters of Initiative 424 said poverty is more important to consider then race and the initiative would not “prohibit or alter affirmative action that identify socio-economic conditions as a factor in determining program status,” according to the NCRI Web site.
