I-1000 all about legalizing discrimination

People and organizations behind a new Initiative Measure No. 1000 are getting signatures in an attempt to repeal the 1998 voter-approved I-200 with deception.

I-200, the Washington State Civil Rights Initiative, prohibits public institutions from discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. I-1000 is all about legalizing discrimination. Let’s read its item 11 (d):

“‘Preferential treatment’ means the act of using race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, and honorably discharged veteran or military status as the sole qualifying factor to select a lesser qualified candidate over a more qualified candidate for a public education, public employment, or public contracting opportunity.”

Pay attention to the term “sole” here. I-1000 is trying to redefine preferential treatment so that it can be used to practice preferential treatment.

The majority voted for I-200 to protect every person’s equal right in 1998. So why should we repeal it for the so-called “diversity?”

We, the people, say “No” to discrimination.

Qiong Xu

Bellevue

EDITOR’S NOTE: According to the full text of the initiative (available online at https://bit.ly/2qRM27n), I-1000 is about “Restoring affirmative action into state law without the use of quotas or preferential treatment; defining the meaning of preferential treatment and its exceptions; and establishing a governor’s commission on diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The letter writer’s quote is only the initiative’s definition of the term “preferential treatment.”