Ward Connerly, nationally-known author and chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, is heading up the movement in several states. Connerly's own heritage includes African American and Irish blood.
During his visit to Phoenix this week, Connerly told 12 News that the amendment is necessary to end discriminatory practices, especially in the universities.
"In hiring practices, race is used as a tie-breaker,"
Connerly said. "We need one standard, one single standard for everybody."
According to hiring standards passed by the Arizona Board of Regents,
"Between equally qualified candidates, preference shall be given to
candidates whose hire will help correct under utilization as identified in
university affirmative action plans..."
A spokesperson for the Arizona Board of Regents stresses that current policy
is in line with federal standards. Race cannot be used as a factor in
undergraduate admissions.
Opponents argue that the proposed amendment would, among other consequences,
hurt many vital state programs, including a task force for prevention of
violence against women.
"It is designed to create a divide among people, and pit one against the
other," says attorney and minority activist Booker Evans.
Evans also argues that the state constitution already provides necessary
civil rights protections.
"It's (the amendment) is something we don't need. We already have something
in the constitution that already prohibits the conduct he's (Connerly) is
trying to eliminate with this amendment," Evans says.