3^rd Public Hearing on Racism and Hostile Climate at UC-Berkeley as a Result of Proposition 209 - April 24, 2007

WATCH the testimony below

Also, READ EXCERPTS from the 1^st public hearing on hostile climate at UC-Berkeley November 2005 [PDF file]

On April 24, 2007, UC-Berkeley students and community members testified about the racism and hostile climate that have worsened at the University of California, Berkeley as a result of Proposition 209.

By telling their personal stories, they asserted two important truths: that ending affirmative action results in resegregation and an increasingly hostile climate on college campuses, and that UC-Berkeley students will NOT accept separate and unequal, back-of-the-bus education for black, Latina/o, and Native American students on our campus and in this state.

The transcript of the hearing will be submitted to the U.S. District Court of Michigan and form part of the official record for a historic federal lawsuit. This lawsuit is bound for the U.S. Supreme Court and is aimed at stopping the implementation of Michigan’s anti-affirmative-action Proposal 2, as well as anti-affirmative- action ballot initiatives across the country, including California’s Proposition 209.

We will stand up, we will tell the truth, we will demand dignity and equality, and we will accept nothing less.

Refer this site to your friends – give them this link: www.bamn.com/hostileclimate.asp

Tanisha West, a student from Oakland Technical High School, states her views on the drop in underrepresented minority student enrollment at UC-Berkeley.

Felicia Moore-Jordan describes the racism she experienced as an undergraduate at UC-Berkeley and now at UC Hastings Law School, which has also been resegregated because of the ban on affirmative action.

Charles Simms, a freshman, encountered blatant racism for the first time at UC-Berkeley.

Alejandra Cruz, describes racist and sexist institutional practices in the drama and English departments, and being discriminated against during her effort to apply to Berkeley's law school (2 parts).

Alejandra Cruz (Part 2 of 2)

The discussion moves to Asian Americans and how they are affected by the ban on affirmative action (2 parts).

Discussion (Part 2 of 2)

Tim Kline and Mel Brooks conclude the public hearing with their own observations about how racism shows itself in modern times.