Contact: Scott Gunderson Rosa, (202) 833-6130

For Immediate Release: October 16, 2000

Tuscon, Arizona-- The National President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is urging Arizonans to vote against Proposition 203 which seeks to eliminate bilingual education programs from Arizona's public schools. Calling the proposition "anti-bilingual, anti-Hispanic and anti-American," Dovalina called into question the politicization of educational decision making.

"We don't vote on how to teach children math or science or any other subject. Those decisions are left to parents and educators. Why should the teaching of English be any different," stated Dovalina.

Dovalina also stressed the need to preserve parental choice. "LULAC supports preserving parental choice and keeping big brother government out of the classroom. Bilingual education should be one of several options for parents and educators to choose from when addressing the needs of limited-English students," he stated.

Calling Arizona the "latest battleground in a California millionaire's obsessive crusade to eliminate bilingual education in the United States," Dovalina urged the people of Arizona to "send Ron Unz and his divisive proposition back to California."

LULAC members in Arizona have been leaders in the efforts to defeat Proposition 203 and defend the rights of all children to a quality public eduction. LULAC National has made a financial commitment to the Arizona LULAC to assist in the effort to defeat the anti-bilingual legislation.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.