Dozens of paid petitioners are arriving in Missouri to pull Ward Connerly's anti-civil rights initiative out of failure. We need you to ensure that Ward Connerly's anti affirmative action initiative stays off the Nov. ballot. We appreciate the many dedicated hours our volunteers and member organizations have given to this work--it has made a difference. We are currently defeating Connerly, BUT he's recruiting a new army, and the big battle is around the next corner.
The good news: Connerly's political operatives are struggling. We know they are collecting in at least 4 districts right now (and remember they must deliver a certain number of votes in 6 of our 9 Congressional districts). The MoCRI initiative is in such hot water that Connerly is paying out of towners $5000 if they come for a week and collect at least $1000 valid signatures. These are desperate measures.
The bad news: Connerly's call for help, which originally appeared in the National Review is now being forwarded and posted in horrifying places--white nationalist sites and among the recruitment emails of the Minutemen. We have no idea how the anti-immigrant and white supremecist communities may respond to his call to action, and we must prepare for a serious showdown this weekend and during the final 10 days of gathering, through Sat. May 3. I am attaching a commentary that appeared in the Wall Street Journal online---the tamest of the calls to action we've seen in cyberspace.
To see how high the stakes are, please read the notable web postings linked below and let us know some times you can help us defeat the anti-civil rights initiative. Contact Lara at the JwJ office 314-644-0466 or Aaron at 314-497-8545 or Amy at 314-265-3927. We will have two-hour shifts (more hours very welcome) throughout Sat. and Sun., and we may need to add rush hour shifts during these last 10 days. We have seven regions in the greater St. Louis area where we must supress their signature gatherers. In addition, we need to educate voters in Congressional District 6 (North Kansas City) and in Columbia. Voter education will be coordinated from the St. Louis JwJ office for all areas of the state.
In addition, now is the time to scout thoroughly throughout your community. If you see petitioners, go up to them and find out what petitions they are carrying, and if they have MoCRI, report to the hotline @ 1-877-644-0466. Most of the time, the "civil rights" initiative is being carried along with two Eminent Domain petitions. The petitioners often tell people that all three petitions are for eminent domain.
May we be much more successful recruiting voter educators than they are getting petitioners!!!
