November 2006 marks ten years since California voters passed Proposition 209, the ballot initiative that banned affirmative action programs in public education, employment, and contracting. The impact of Proposition 209's enactment upon communities of color in California has been gravely detrimental. To expose the consequences that dismantling affirmative action has had in California, and to explore ways of reversing these negative effects, Boalt Impacting 209, a coalition of identity journals at U.C. Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall), presents Overturning 209: a Joint Symposium and Movement. Overturning 209 will take place on Thursday, April 6, 2006 in Pauley Ballroom, located on U.C. Berkeley’s main campus (at the intersection of Bancroft and Telegraph).

Overturning 209 will bring together students, attorneys, scholars, activists, and policymakers from across the state to discuss the impact of Proposition 209 on our communities and to debate effective responses we can use to create a more just society. The event will feature panels analyzing: (1) the impact of Proposition 209, (2) litigation responses to Proposition 209, (3) policy responses to Proposition 209, and (4) community mobilization efforts to overturn Proposition 209. Each panel will address Proposition 209 in the contexts of education, employment, and contracting.

Our symposium and movement aim to:

We hope you join us on April 6th for this important and exciting event!