CFER Foundation

Public


Published July 29, 2021

The Diverse Coalition Opposing Critical Ethnic Studies Grows to Welcome the Latino American Political Association

by

CFER

cover-img

For Immediate Release

July 29, 2021

**SAN DIEGO, CA -- July 29, 2021-**On July 29, 2021, Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER), on behalf of 28 partner organizations, sent an official letter to the California State Senate, opposing AB101--- the state mandate for ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement. Our broad-based alliance includes prominent national and regional groups, unified against the intrusion of divisive and discriminatory critical race theory (CRT) into public education. We argue that California's ethnic studies mandate is an imprudent measure based on the highly controversial ethnic studies model curriculum and liberated ethnic studies, which are both rooted in CRT as an ideological framework.

Notably, the Latino American Political Association (LAPA), a non-partisan organization promoting leadership and unity in the Latino community, has joined the CFER-led alliance against AB101.

"LAPA is pleased to participate in this timely initiative to jointly voice public concerns about California's ethnic studies movement," commented Jordan Gascon, the president of LAPA. "The Latino community of California expected a genuine ethnic studies paradigm that promotes understanding and builds bridges with other communities. Sadly, the existing models of ethnic studies in California distort the original purpose of encouraging multiethnic perspectives and stokes divisions instead."

Our diverse coalition against critical ethnic studies and CRT encompasses scholar groups such as the National Association of Scholars, prominent Asian-American organizations such as the San Diego Asian Americans for Equality and the Silicon Valley Chinese Association FoundationFree Black Thought--- a black civil rights group, AMCHA Initiative--- an influential Jewish-American organization, and rising national grassroots organizations dedicated to empowering parents and children---to include Parents Defending Education and Moms for Liberty. The alliance also includes many California-based grassroots groups such as Educators for Quality and Equality,  Alliance to Protect ChildrenProtect Our KidsConcerned Parents of San Diego and Equal Rights for All PAC. It represents growing demands from academics, educators, parents, and community members for accountability and academic excellence against ideological corrosions. Our cosigners come from vastly different racial, ethnic and political backgrounds and are united by a common mission to safeguard education from political indoctrination.

In the joint letter, we provide strong evidence against teaching politicized ethnic studies with regard to the mandate's controversial nature, its huge financial impact, and debunked claims of its educational benefits, in light of a catastrophic loss of academic instruction for K-12 students induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CFER will continue to monitor AB101 and other similar attempts to introduce CRT in public education. We will expand our coalition-building efforts to amplify the steady and broad-based support for our mission to defend equal rights against CRT's incursion.


Contact:

Wenyuan Wu

wenyuan.wu@cferfoundation.org

About Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER):

We are a non-partisan and non-profit organization established following the defeat of Proposition 16 in 2020, with a mission to defend and raise public awareness on the cause of equal rights through public education, civic engagement and community outreach. In 1996, California became the first U.S. state to amend its constitution by passing Proposition 209 to ban racial discrimination and preferences. Prop. 209 requires that “the state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.” CFER is dedicated to educating the public on this important constitutional principle of equal treatment.

CFER

Defend merit and advance equality.

Media Outreach

Posts

Stay up to date


© 2024 Californians for Equal Rights Foundation. All rights reserved. CFER is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS.

Tax ID Number: 85-2315151