PRESS RELEASE


Media Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler,
Director of News and Information,
(818) 885-2130

February 26, 1996

Jesse Jackson to Speak at Affirmative Action Rally

The Rev. Jesse Jackson will speak Thursday, March 14, at a student rally at Cal State Northridge on the issues raised by the proposed California Civil Rights Initiative.

The rally is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the university's Oviatt Library in the center of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge. Jackson is slated to begin speaking about 12:50 p.m.

The event is being organized by the Coalition for Affirmative Action at California State University, Northridge. The coalition was formed last semester by nine student organizations, who have since been joined by 14 other student groups.

"The Coalition for Affirmative Action only wishes to contribute to the ongoing debate on affirmative action," said student Vladimir Cerna, general secretary of the coalition.

The CCRI would prohibit government from granting preferences based on race or gender in hiring and contracting, and in admissions at public universities. It would affect state and local government practices, but not affirmative action programs in private industry.