Reaffirm Affirmative Action?

Nov. 10, 2006 — -- Affirmative action continues to be one of our nation's most divisive issues, and on Election Day, the issue divided the state of Michigan.

Voters approved Proposal 2, a ballot initiative that bans Michigan affirmative action based on race, gender and ethnicity.

Ultimately, they decided to eliminate affirmative action by a margin of half a million. It passed in the state with 1.8 million votes in favor and 1.3 million opposed.

Today, a lawsuit is pending to save the policy that could go as far as the Supreme Court.

Those in favor of affirmative action say Tuesday's decision will negatively affect single-sex schools, university admissions, hiring policies, and government contracts for minorities and women.

The suit was filed in federal court by BAMN (The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigration Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary), an affirmative-action advocacy group.

The group's suit names the state of Michigan and its governor as defendants, and alleges that the anti-affirmative action proposal violates equal protection under the 14th Amendment and, therefore, is invalid under federal law.

Despite the passage of this amendment to the state constitution, the University of Michigan remains committed to diversity.

On Wednesday, university president Mary Sue Coleman told the campus community, "We will find ways to overcome the handcuffs that Proposal 2 attempts to place on our reach for greater diversity."

Coleman also said that she was "exploring legal action concerning this initiative" and asked the university's attorneys "for their full and undivided support in defending diversity" at Michigan.

Jennifer Gratz is executive director of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative -- the group that sponsored Proposal 2.

Gratz told ABC News she believed banning affirmative action was better for racial equality.

"We need to move towards a colorblind government that treats people equally based on their merits," she said. "The people of Michigan have spoken."

Gratz added that she had patterned her proposal after California's Proposition 209, which was authored by California Civil Rights Initiative chairman, Ward Connerly, a staunch opponent of racial preferences.

Gratz calls Connerly "a supporter, mentor, friend and adviser," and noted that he had given "a significant amount of money" out of his own pocket to push Proposal 2 forward.