Thousands Protest Florida Governor's Affirmative Action Changes

12:55 p.m. ET (1755 GMT) March 7, 2000
By David Mark

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Thousands of demonstrators from around the country marched Tuesday to protest Gov. Jeb Bush's plan to eliminate racial and gender preferences in university admissions and state contracting. They chanted "Shame on Bush" and began a mile-long march to the Capitol as the governor started his State of the State address. Tuesday also was the opening of the Legislature's annual two-month session.

Mark Foley/AP Unidentified affirmative action supporters pray at a local church prior to their candle light vigil at the Florida governor's mansion

Four members of the Tuskegee Airmen unit of black aviators during World War II were cheered when they appeared before the crowd.

"When I was in Florida those days I couldn't go to the beach," said one of the aviators, Leo Gray of Miami. "I don't want to be bushwhacked into those days."

The march route was closed to traffic as the demonstrators gathered.

"We came up here to stand up for affirmative action," said Jeronica Cooper, who drove more than 470 miles from Miami to attend the march. "I hope the governor will listen."

High school senior Beth Prentiss took the day off from school to join the protest. Leon County schools were allowing students to skip classes Tuesday to participate in the march.

"There's racism and sexism in this society," she said. "It's blatant, it's obvious. If Bush doesn't get the message we're going to make him listen."

Mark Foley/AP Gov. Jeb Bush, center, is welcomed onto the House floor to deliver his State of the State speech

Among those set to march were the Rev. Jesse Jackson, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, the Rev. Martin Luther King III, members of Congress and state legislators.

Bush defended his move in his State of the State speech.

"The vast majority of Floridians favor the elimination of affirmative action programs," Bush said. He said state universities will admit more minority students this year and the state is awarding more contracts to minorities.

"There is a new energy for minority outreach that is unprecedented in state government," Bush said. "Our plan is working."

Bush's One Florida plan bans consideration of race and gender in admissions to the state's 10 public universities and in state contracting decisions. It also guarantees admission to a state university for the top 20 percent of each high school graduating class — if students have taken college preparatory classes.

"Nobody knows what's going to happen with this new plan and that's the scary thing," said Cornelius Minor, student government president at traditionally black Florida A&M University.

Protests against the plan began in earnest after two black lawmakers — state Sen. Kendrick Meek and Rep. Tony Hill — staged an impromptu sit-in at the Republican governor's office on Jan. 18.

Bush and his Cabinet gave final approval to portions of the plan two weeks ago, making Florida the first state government to strike down traditional affirmative action programs. The plan also was approved unanimously by the State University System's Board of Regents.

Bans on various types of affirmative action are in force in Texas by federal court order and Washington state under a ballot measure. In California, voters banned affirmative action in state contracts after the state's Board of Regents did the same for university admissions.

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