www.ca-dem.org January 20, 2003
Regent justifies segregation talk
UC students seek apology for Connerly's comments on racism made on CNN show
Thursday, January 16, 2003
By Michelle Maitre
SAN FRANCISCO - The University of California Student Association today is expected to ask Regent Ward Connerly for a formal apology for comments about segregation he made on a CNN television show, but they're likely to be disappointed.
"I'm not apologizing; tell them to go to hell," Connerly said, defending his comments as "an intellectual point of view."
Boalt Law School student Mo Kashmiri, a member of the UC Student Association, said the association objects to comments Connerly made on a Dec. 13 edition of "Wolf Blitzer Reports."
"Supporting segregation need not be racist," Connerly said during an interview on the furor surrounding former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. "One can support segregation and believe in equality of the races."
"In 2003, I don't think it's OK to justify segregation," said Kashmiri, who said the comments exacerbate ever-present student concerns about diversity on UC campuses.
Kashmiri said the student association voted unanimously to ask for Connerly's apology.
Students will address Connerly during today's Board of Regents meeting at UC San Francisco.
Connerly, however, who is perhaps best known for his push to end affirmative action at UC, said he opposes segregation.
His comments came during an interview in which he called for Lott to step down as the Republican leader.
But, Connerly said, "There's a belief that if you don't utter everything precisely as other people want to hear it, you're a racist .... Segregation is wrong, but for those who have an alternative view, I am not going to say that they are by definition racist."
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Uncle Tom Ward Connerly back in the news
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