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__________________________________________________________________________
The Internet Anti-Fascist: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
Vol. 4, Number 14 (#389)
__________________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
Action Alert
AFAA #96: Mumia Defense Conference
AFAA #97: Anti-Haider Actions
AntiFascistisk Aktion-Stockholm, "arson destroys swedish white power music
studio," 12 Feb 00
Real Political Correctness: Christian Fundies Target unPC Students
People For the American Way Foundation and Lambda Legal Defense and
Education Fund, "Judge Rules El Modena Gay-Straight Alliance Must Be
Allowed to Meet: 'Breathtaking' order paves way for equal access
while case proceeds," 4 Feb 00
Barbara Whitaker (New York Times), "To Outlaw Gay Group, District May
Ban Clubs," 10 Feb 00
AANEWS (American Atheists Newsletter), "Gay Club In California Focuses
Debate On Bible Groups, Equal Access Act," 13 Feb 00
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ANTI-FASCIST ACTION ALERT #96: Mumia Defense Conference
A Call to Organizations and Organizers:
Emergency National Conference to Save Mumia Abu Jamal
Saturday, February 19, 2000
At the Synod Hall of the Cathedral of St. John The Divine, New York, NY
The case of Death Row Journalist Mumia Abu Jamal stands at a pivotal point
in the fight against capital punishment and for justice in this country and
around the world.
This case is now at its most critical stage. Federal District court Justice
William Yohn is reviewing Mumia’s petition for habeas corpus relief based
on allegations of 29 constitutional violations. This is Mumia’s final legal
avenue and will determine whether or not he is granted a new and fair
trial. It is expected that Yohn’s decision on whether to hear new evidence
will be handed down sometime in March or April. If we lose at this level,
it will be immeasurably harder to win in the federal appeals courts. After
this stage, the appeals process is very rapid and could result in a new
execution date before the end of 2000.
Obviously much work must be done to affect the outcome of Judge Yohn’s
deliberations. In order to be successful we need to have a unified vision
and strategy. Thus we are calling an Emergency National Conference to Save
Mumia Abu Jamal to take place in New York City on February 19. A major goal
is to provide an opportunity for a wide array of social forces to come
together and strategize for this next round in the fight. Participation of
increasingly wider forces will send an important and timely message that
justice is the only option in this case.
As organizations and institutions concerned about social justice, due
process, racism, police brutality, and the death penalty we are calling on
you to join this effort by endorsing this conference, by joining the
planning committee, by publicizing, and by participating in the event
itself.
The heart of the conference will be a series of workshops designed to
strategize around key constituencies and areas of work (e.g., legal,
religious, youth mobilization, organizing in communities of color, and
labor) Each of these sessions will come out, not only with a plan, but with
a structure to implement that plan. Prior to breaking up into workshops a
short plenary session will launch the conference with one speaker
describing the day’s goal. One of Mumia’s attorneys will give a brief legal
update and assessment of where things stand in the courts at this juncture.
The evening will be devoted to a public session to remember. This will be a
program that tells Mumia’s story -- an artfully crafted series of
presentations on Mumia’s life and his writings. This session will bring
both educational content and an emotional impact. Here we are inviting the
participation of major artists. The evening program will be open to the
public, and a video will be made. It will pose to people Alice Walker’s
penetrating question with whom do you want to walk into the next century?
We must emphasize the emergency of the moment as well as making sure that
the organizing committee represents the people and organizations who must
now become involved. We are inviting several levels of pre-conference
participation: 1) the actual organizing committee, 2) a national advisory
board who will be consulted at every step, and 3) sub-committees for the
individual workshops.
The conference will map out a battle plan to save Mumia’s life and provide
direction for what role organizations and individuals can and must play in
that plan. It will lay plans for a major mobilization in Philadelphia on
the first day of Mumia’s hearing in federal court.
Projected Workshops
Legal: Can we organize a major public statement by the legal community? How
to we get the amicus briefs on the key legal issues? How do we get
resolutions by local bar associations, and programs in law schools? How do
we assist the legal team to start work now on the legal research and papers
that will be needed for various contingencies?
Youth: This should be led by youth and perhaps this should be an all-day
session. How do we make the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal the issue that "tears
up" the campuses and high-schools this winter and spring? How to we take on
the right-wing anti-Mumia forces trying to reach youth?
Religious: How can we expand the excellent statement already being signed
by persons of faith into a nationally publicized statement? How can we
systematically reach the congregations of major religious denominations?
How can we develop acts of witness by religious forces (here work around
the School of the Americas is a good model)?
Black Community and other people of color: How do we make the case of Mumia
into a central felt concern of the Black community as a whole? How can we
get the Black churches to take this up? How do we put this case in the
center of the Black media from local papers to BET? How do we reach
influential groups like the NAACP, Operation PUSH, the King family, and
AKA? Community and political outreach to other communities of color
including Latino, Asian, etc. must also be a focal point of this conference
and workshops.
Media: How can we get major authors to write a major piece on this case for
prominent national publications? Can we hit the other side with a series of
full page ads through the winter and spring (educators, religious figures,
lawyers, etc.)? How can we continue to develop the support of the
alternative media? Who will produce the needed Public Service
Announcements?
The Battle in Philadelphia: How can we develop more expressions of support
in Philadelphia for justice for Mumia? Going up against the attacks by the
Fraternal Order of Police, the city, and the local media on Mumia’s
supporters. Mobilizing for Mumia’s coming court appearances.
Artists & Writers: Building on Mumia 911 and other efforts, how can we
unleash the talents of writers and artists to continue to create moving
images and sounds for Mumia? An example is the statement in the Nation by
Angela Davis, June Jordan, and Alice Walker.
Labor: Building on the labor actions in the Bay Area and elsewhere, what
forms can actions by organized working people now take? How can we continue
the union resolutions working toward pressure on the national union
leaderships to take action?
Lesbian/gay/bi/trans Outreach: Broad layers of the lesbian/gay/bi/trans
movement have taken interest in Mumia’s case in the wake of the brutal
murder of Matthew Shepard. How can we broaden the Rainbow Flags for Mumia
coalition which has been endorsed by the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, LLEGO,
and Pride at Work?
Special Events: How can we promote and make most effective the major
rallies and mobilizations in the first half of 2000. Plans for the
Republican National Convention hosted by Gov. Tom Ridge in Philadelphia in
August, and to challenge Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell at the Democratic
Convention for his prosecution of Mumia.
Civil Disobedience: What better place than here? What better time than
now? Building on the example of the mass arrests July 4th 1999 at
Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell shouldn’t this case become the issue over which
people of conscience are prepared to act?
Anti-Death Penalty Movement: So much of the speeded-up death penalty is
concentrated in Mumia’s case, and Mumia speaks for all death row inmates.
Prisoners on death row everywhere are watching this effort with both hope
and dread. How can we bring Mumia’s case more to the center of the
anti-death penalty movement?
International Support: A major component of pressure on the government
comes from throughout the world. That has included statements by world
leaders, a resolution of the European Parliament, and activity by
organizations such as Amnesty International. These efforts need more
coordination and greater publicity in the United States.
Racism and the Death Penalty: What happened to Mumia is typical of what
happens to young Black men in the criminal justice system. Knowing how
racism is used in the application of the death penalty is key to the
understanding why Mumia is on death row.
Police Torture and Falsified Confessions: Using the example of eleven
Illinois death row inmates who were tortured into making confessions. The
recent exposure of both police torture and fabricated confessions in
Illinois give us a window on the need for an immediate halt to executions.
Mumia 101: This would be the place for a thorough introduction to the case,
and the issues that are concentrated in it, for the many new people who
will be drawn to the conference.
Please circulate this call and endorse the Emergency National Conference to
Save Mumia Abu-Jamal
Registration information:
Solidarity Registration--$25,
Basic Registration--$15,
Student Registration--$5.
Make checks payable to National Lawyers Guild/NYC Chapter and mark in the
memo field Feb 19 Conference, then mail to: Emergency National Conference
to Save Mumia Abu-Jamal, c/o Center for Constitutional Rights, 666
Broadway, New York, NY 10012-2317. E-mail address is
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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ANTI-FASCIST ACTION ALERT #96: Anti-Haider Actions
STOP HAIDER!
No Fascist In Government!
Worldwide Demonstrations Saturday 19 February
A mass demonstration has been called by SOS Mitmensch for Saturday 19
February in Vienna. Their first demo attracted over 50,000 last November
after the election in which Haider got 27 percent of the vote. Another
20,000 marched on the even of the Austrian president's expected
announcement of a coalition government between the Conservatives and
Haider's Freedom Party.
The Anti-Nazi League is sending a delegation. Travel will be by coach. If
you are interested, contact the ANL for more details and get delegated by
your student union, trade union, community organisation or Labour Party
ward. Bring your banners.
Details of the mobilisation across Europe for the Vienna demonstration are
linked at the ICARE website. There will also be live reports of the
demonstrations on this site.
ANL <http://www.anti-nazileague.demon.co.uk/>
SOS Mitmensch <http://www.sos-mitmensch.at/>
ICARE (Internet Centre Anti-Racism) <http://www.icare.to/>
- - - - -
Anti-Haider Demo
New York City
19 Feb, 11 AM
Austrian Consulate
31 E. 69th St.
Demo against rightwing policies, racism, xenophobia & current Austrian
government. Part of day of demos in Vienna, Paris, Berlin & Rome. In front
of the Austrian Consulate (31 E 69th, bet Park & Madison). Gerhard Frommel,
646-654-1131, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, or Daniela Swarowsky, phone/fax
718-388-1809.
- - - - -
No to Nazis in government-No Return to the 1930's
Demonstrate to Stop Haider
Join the International day of protest against the Austrian Nazi "Freedom
Party's" entry into the Austrian Government.
There will be simultaneous demonstrations against across Europe to protest
at the new coalition in Vienna, Rome, Paris, London, Leeds, Newcastle,
Edinburgh and Birmingham UK
6.00 pm to 7.30pm
Saturday 19th February 2000
Austrian Consulate
5 Barlows Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
Fascists in government, but Austria resists
Vienna housewife Beatrix Vasegak said "Three in four Austrian's voted
against Haider. He is a fascist. We don't want to go back to the 1930s." .
She spoke for hundreds of thousands of people in Austria. The entry of the
far right Freedom Party into government, has sent shockwaves across the
world.
Even many Tory politicians in Europe say they are concerned. Labour and
Tory governments in the European Union pledged diplomatic sanctions on
Austria last week. But by the beginning of this week they were already
retreating. The British government has been the most reluctant to condemn
the fascist ministers.
Freedom Party leader Jörg Haider makes speeches in praise of Hitler.
Scandalously, Labour foreign secretary Robin Cook says we should judge
Haider "on his deeds, not his words".
Fortunately students and workers in Austria have shown more courage.
Thousands have taken to the streets against Haider and the new government.
Everyone should support those fighting back. If Haider's party stays in
power it will boost Nazis and racists everywhere.
Haider praised Hitler
Haider is not in the new government but has stayed on as governor of the
province of Carinthia. Everyone knows, however, that the six Freedom Party
ministers are answerable to him.
Haider's entire political history shows he would like to turn the Freedom
Party into a full-blown fascist force with him as leader of Austria. The
country estate he inherited from his uncle was seized from people of jewish
faith who were forced to leave Austria in the 1930s. He has identified
himself with former members of Hitler's SS and praised Hitler's "orderly
employment policies".
Haider does not yet have the tens of thousands of street fighters which
enabled Hitler to crush the trade unions and working class organisations
within weeks of being appointed chancellor of Germany in January 1933. But
Haider's party has not only scapegoated immigrants. It has also tried to
organise thugs to rule the streets.
Nothing enrages Haider and his supporters more than immigrants, refugees
and asylum-seekers. Balkan and African wars have doubled their numbers, and
the new government threatens to close the doors and expel the undeserving -
especially if they don't learn German. But the refugees I met at a
Catholic hostel felt that things can hardly get worse.
Jean-Marie, a refugee from the Congo war, told of overcrowding and hunger
at the Traiskirchen transit camp. After an anti-black speech by a
prominent Freedom Party man (who almost became a Cabinet Minister), police
raided Africans in the camp for drugs and beat them up; some were still in
hospital. Gallo, a refugee from the slaughter in Sierra Leone, was jailed
for two months for entering Austria without a visa. 'I heard in prison
about this new government that hates foreigners, but I can't believe it.'
Titty saw most of her family killed. Now she gets up at four in the morning
to clean the streets. 'If the new government doesn't want me who will
help?'
Khadijah was jailed after Austrian police banged on the table and yelled
that she was a liar for saying that she was from Sierra Leone. 'Refugees
are badly treated here,' she said. Would it get worse?
Demonstrations in the UK called by:
Anti-Nazi League
National Assembley Against Racism
Searchlight
CARF
There will be a delegation form the UK going to Vienna on the 19th February
organised by the Anti-Nazi league for details ring 0171-924-0333
Further information from:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
arson destroys swedish white power music studio
AntiFascistisk Aktion-Stockholm
12 Feb 00
the recording studios owned and operated by the "viking-rock" band ultima
thule in nyköping, sweden were completely destroyed by fire sometime early
on the morning of thursday the 10th of february.
ultima thule was at the forefront of the white power music wave that spread
across sweden and scandinavia in the early 1990’s. the band members have
their political roots within the fascist parliamentary party,
sverigedemokraterna (the sweden democrats). in later years, ultima thule
has been involved in organising the yearly white power music festival,
holmgång, held outside of the western swedish town of borås. this festival
has attempted to create links between the northern european nazi movement
and nationalistic motorcycle and car clubs.
the extensive fire destroyed not only the bands recording studio and
instruments, but all of their master tapes, including those completed for
an upcoming album. all post-order merchandise was also destroyed in the
blaze.
"every fire needs a little bit of help. give the nazi a cigarette."
-- AntiFascistisk Aktion-Stockholm
Box 381 96, 100 64 Stockholm
Sweden
+46-([0]739) 98 01 59
PG 4849894-3
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<www.motkraft.net/afa>
Mot sexism, rasism, kapitalism och homofobi.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
REAL POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: Christian Fundies Target unPC Students
It's from the rightwing authoritarians and always has been
Judge Rules El Modena Gay-Straight Alliance Must Be Allowed to Meet:
'Breathtaking' order paves way for equal access while case proceeds
People For the American Way Foundation and Lambda Legal Defense and
Education Fund
4 Feb 00
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA -- U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter issued a
preliminary injunction today, ordering the Orange Unified School District
to allow the Gay-Straight Alliance Club at El Modena High School to meet on
school grounds while their case proceeds.
"We are delighted," said Lambda Supervising Attorney Jon W. Davidson. "Not
only did Judge Carter rule that the students must be allowed to meet under
the federal Equal Access Act, he also emphasized that El Modena High's Gay-
Straight Alliance Club is in the public interest."
Ralph G. Neas, President of People For the American Way Foundation, said,
"These students have been courageous in their fight for simple justice.
Today's decision will help them grow up believing in America's promise -
that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law."
People For the American Way Foundation, Lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund, and Irell & Manella, LLP, represent the students and the club, who
challenged school officials' refusal to let them use school facilities like
the other 38 clubs that currently meet on
campus.
The judge's ruling cited the high incidence of anti-gay hate crimes and the
disproportionate rate of suicide among lesbian and gay teenagers, saying in
his order that "[t]his injunction is not just about student pursuit of
ideas and tolerance for diverse viewpoints. As any concerned parent would
understand, this case may involve the protection of life itself."
Today's ruling lets the club - which more than 50 students have expressed
interest in joining - meet freely while the lawsuit continues.
Significantly, the judge rejected the school board's argument that the club
was initiated by outside adults.
Judge Carter heard argument last month at a hearing in which the club's
founders, 15-year-old Anthony Colin and 16-year-old Heather Zetin,
testified that they wanted a place safe to talk about what it was like to
be a gay teenager and how to deal with harassment in school, and emphasized
that adults had not influenced or controlled their efforts.
"These brave students are trying to build support and respect among their
classmates," Jon Davidson said as the students' mothers left the courthouse
with police protection standing by.
The Orange Unified School Board applied for a stay of the ruling pending
their appeal, which the judge promised to consider by the end of the day.
The school board plans to hold a closed-door emergency meeting at 4:30 p.m.
today; the board may consider banning all non- curricular clubs in order to
prevent the Gay-Straight Alliance Club from meeting.
"With this case, the students have been forced to teach a big lesson to the
very school officials who should be helping them protect their learning
environment. Thanks to Judge Carter's breathtaking ruling, that
environment will be safer and fairer soon," said Kendra Huard, Acting
Director of People For the American Way Foundation's California Office.
Judge Carter set a status conference in the case for March 27, and
said the trial will commence during summer vacation. A copy of the
opinion is available by calling 202-467-4999 or 212-809-8585.
- - - - -
To Outlaw Gay Group, District May Ban Clubs
Barbara Whitaker (New York Times)
10 Feb 00
ORANGE, Calif. -- Under the protection of a court but in defiance of a
school board's wishes, a group of gay teenagers held their weekly lunch-
hour meeting today in an empty classroom at El Modena High School here.
But whether they will ever do so again remains uncertain.
In a fight that has roiled this conservative suburban community and drawn
attention from legal scholars across the country, the Orange Unified School
District is seeking to ban the group, contending that it is inappropriate
because it deals with issues of sexuality.
Now, faced with a lawsuit and a judge's preliminary injunction, the
district is considering a new approach: whether to vote on Thursday to ban
all 38 noncurricular clubs, including the Black Student Union and the
Gentlemen's Club, as a way of halting the gay group's meetings. Only one
other school district, Salt Lake City, has taken such an approach, and a
lawsuit against that district is still moving through the courts.
"We have reached a point in this process where the board faces a range of
options," said Judith Frutig, a spokeswoman for the board. "On one hand,
they could stop the lawsuit or on the other they could press forward with
the knowledge that this case will likely go as far as the Supreme Court.
So they have a lot to consider."
As a demonstration of the passions that the dispute has inflamed, adult and
student protesters, some of whom had come from as far away as Salt Lake
City, exchanged verbal insults outside the school this afternoon. The
police were called in to break up the disturbance.
For gay students and their parents, the board's decision in December to
deny the group's application to establish a club is no less than a
violation of free speech. For some straight students and their parents and
some board members, the primary subject matter is inappropriate for a
school
organization. At least one board member contends that homosexuality is a
sin and that permitting a group to meet on campus condones it.
On Friday, in response to a lawsuit by the group's student organizers, a
federal district judge, David O. Carter, ordered the board to allow the
group to meet until the case could get a full hearing and he criticized the
school district for failing to protect gay students from harassment.
The dispute over the club's existence arises as gay rights issues play out
across the country on several other fronts: in Vermont, legislators are
considering whether to grant domestic partnership rights to gay couples,
while a California ballot initiative will ask voters to reaffirm that the
state should only acknowledge heterosexual marriage. Illinois is
considering a law that would offer special legal status to gay victims of
violence.
But while those legislative and legal fights have attracted more attention,
schools across the country are increasingly wrestling with similar kinds of
sweeping issues. As studies show that gay youths are revealing their
sexual orientation at younger and younger ages, a growing number of
teenagers are forming gay rights support groups.
According to statistics compiled by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
Network, more than 600 gay alliance clubs now exist in middle schools and
high schools across the country. In a handful of cases, school boards have
considered moves to stop the groups from meeting, but have backed down as
court actions were threatened.
"The average age at which students self-identify as lesbian and gay has
dropped dramatically over the last 20 years," said Jon W. Davidson, a
supervising lawyer with the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the
country's largest and oldest lesbian and gay legal rights organization.
"High schools are having to deal with this issue whereas they didn't in the
past."
In the dispute here, the school board cited the state education code in
denying the group's application. The board said the code had strict
requirements on how, when and by whom sex education and related courses are
taught on school grounds. It said it would be inappropriate for students
to lead discussions on such sensitive topics as sexuality and sexual
conduct. The school board announced its decision after the group filed
a lawsuit in November charging that the board was illegally delaying action
on the application.
The suit cited the Equal Access Act of 1984, the Fourteen Amendment
guaranteeing equal protection and other civil rights laws. The 1984 act
provides that schools allowing groups to meet in extracurricular clubs
cannot deny certain groups to meet because of the content of their
discussions.
The legislation was passed by Congress at the urging of conservative
groups pushing for religious meetings in schools, but it has since become
an effective tool for gay rights groups seeking similar privileges.
On Friday, when Judge Carter issued his preliminary injunction ordering the
district to allow the students to meet as the case moves through the court,
he carefully examined the student's rights under the law, ultimately
finding that the board must "give plaintiffs all the same rights and
privileges that it gives to other student groups."
In making his ruling, the judge also found that there was a strong
indication that the students were being harmed as a result of being denied
their First Amendment right to free speech.
"Plaintiffs have been injured not only by the board's excessive delay, but
also by the inability to effectively address the hardships they encounter
at school every day," the judge wrote. "Some students at El Modena do not
even feel safe using the school's restrooms.
In the days since the judge's ruling, the atmosphere for gay students at El
Modena has been tense, student organizers said. When they arrived at
school on Monday, gay students said the campus was littered with prank gay-
recruitment fliers. "Come on Elmo, don't be shy! You're either gay . . .
or you're bi," read the fliers, which showed two men naked from the waist
up.
Anthony Colin, a 15-year-old who helped found the gay club, said the idea
for the club arose from the savage beating death in 1998 of Matthew
Shepard, a 21-year-old freshman at the University of Wyoming who was
targeted because of his homosexuality.
Student organizers say their goal is to promote tolerance among and for gay
and straight students at the school. A survey by the Gay, Lesbian and
Straight Education Network, found that 91 percent of students polled by
their organization regularly heard homophobic comments at school. More
than two-thirds of gay respondents said they had been verbally, physically
or sexually harassed on a daily basis.
The El Modena group said it hoped to raise public awareness and promote
tolerance by providing a safe forum for discussion of issues related to
sexual orientation and homophobia.
"We wish to stress the need for people to put aside their personal
prejudice and agree to treat everyone with respect when the situation calls
for it," the group wrote, noting that no one needed to disclose their
sexual orientation.
But school officials and some parents say they fear the students are being
used to promote the agenda of national gay advocacy groups and express
concern about the group's mission.
- - - - -
Gay CLub In California Focuses Debate On Bible Groups, Equal Access Act
AANEWS (American Atheists Newsletter)
13 Feb 00
A decision by the Orange County, California board of education to
prevent meetings of a gay tolerance club has ignited debate over free
speech and the formation of Bible study and other groups in public
schools. On Thursday night, school district officials restricted all clubs
at elementary and middle schools to those only directly related to the
studies curriculum
The tough new rules require students to obtain written consent from parents
before they may participate in any sanctioned club and maintain at least a
2.0 academic average. Clubs must also avoid any discussion of a sexual
nature.
Reports described the board's move as a "preemptive strike" against the
Gay-Straight Alliance at El Mordena High School. The club is suing the
school district under the federal Equal Access Act, a 1984 law that
prohibits public schools from selectively denying noncurricular clubs.
Ironically, the Equal Access Act was hailed by religious conservatives as a
way of encouraging Bible study and other faith-based groups on campuses.
The strategy has backfired, though, as students form gay support
organizations, atheist and freethought clubs, or other controversial
groups.
In 1995, students at East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah petitioned to
form a Gay-Straight Alliance club. The state legislature, dominated by the
Mormon Church, responded the following year by passing a law banning any
school clubs that supposedly encourage criminal or delinquent conduct,
bigotry, or sexual activity. Similar standards were incorporated in a 1997
set of guidelines adopted by the Utah State Board of Education.
High School officials in Salt Lake City went even further. Rather than
permit the Gay-Straight Alliance group to meet as a sanctioned
organization, the school board ordered all non-curriculum clubs to disband.
Victims of the ban included the Students Against Drunk Driving, Young
Republicans and Young Democrats, and even a Bart Simpson fan club.
When asked about the selective bias against the gay club and in favor of
Bible study groups, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said that when the
Equal Access Act was approved, it wasn't for "those sorts of groups."
Other school boards in California have considered similar measures,
inevitably prompted not by athletic clubs or Bible study circles, but
petitions for gay and gay support groups.
At last Thursday's packed hearing, parents expressed concern that the
board's newly adopted standards violate state regulations and could prevent
other popular student clubs from operating. Some challenged the
restriction of getting parental approval. One parent suggested that this
requirement may discourage gay youth who seek an atmosphere of tolerance
through a support group because they cannot find it at home.
Anthony Scariano of the National School Board's Association Council of
School Attorneys also expressed skepticism. He told the Los Angeles Times
that the new guidelines were clearly discriminatory.
"If sexual activity can't be discussed in a club meeting, does that mean
that a history club could not talk about Thomas Jefferson's relationship
with his slaves, or that a Christian club could not urge members to abstain
from sex?"
"The school board has never expressed any concern whether heterosexuals
were discussing sex," added Judith Schaeffer, an attorney for the Gay-
Straight Alliance.
Many parents said they felt blind-sided by the school district's sudden
move. One told the Times, "It's basically a reactionary situation that
didn't solve their problem."
Ironically, thanks to a federal judge's preliminary injunction on behalf of
the Gay-Straight Alliance, that group is meeting while other clubs are
technically in violation of school board regulations.
"Even Russia isn't like this any more," one parent told the Times. "It's
kind of sick, isn't it? When the next controversy comes up, are they going
to come up with another set of rules? Where does it end?"
* * * * *
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and
educational purposes only.
__________________________________________________________________________
FASCISM:
We have no ethical right to forgive, no historical right to forget.
(No permission required for noncommercial reproduction)
- - - - -
back issues archived via:
<ftp://ftp.nyct.net/pub/users/tallpaul/publish/tinaf/>
_____________________________________________________________
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