BAMN
Encyclopedia
BAMN stands for By Any Means Necessary, and its full name is the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary. It is a left-wing civil rights
activist group that organizes demonstrations and litigation to achieve its aims, and it organizes primarily in colleges and K-12 schools.
to ban affirmative action. In 1997, BAMN expanded to Michigan, where it organized student support for the affirmative action policy of the University of Michigan Law School
at Ann Arbor (UMLS) as a result of a challenge to that policy via Grutter v. Bollinger
. That case was decided in 2003 by the U.S. Supreme Court
in favor of permitting some racial admissions criteria- for at least the next 25 years, when all race considerations "should" be made illegal. The majority opinion by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
stated: "Effective participation by members of all racial and ethnic groups in the civic life of our Nation is essential if the dream of one Nation, indivisible, is to be realized."
BAMN states that it promotes the protection and expansion of civil rights for all under-represented classes throughout the United States, and is especially focused on perceived challenges to minority students via the defense of historic affirmative action standards.
BAMN became one of 44 parties in the Supreme Court's Grutter v. Bollinger
case concerning Michigan Law School admissions; BAMN's chief strategist was reportedly one of a 'record number' who filed an "amicus" brief in the case.
The University of Michigan Law School case was heard at the same time as Gratz v. Bollinger
, concerning racial admissions policies in the University of Michigan (U-M) undergraduate school. While the Law School system was allowed to proceed for the period of one generation, the undergraduate school's specific admissions policy were struck down.
Since 1995, BAMN has organized a variety of college campaigns promoting affirmative action and defeat of contrary legislation written to end racial admissions policies. BAMN's campaigns were not successful in the polls over three state initiatives
curtailing strict racial quotas in three states: Michigan Prop. 2 'Civil Rights Initiative' (2006)
, California Prop. 209 (1996)
and Washington State Washington Initiative 200 (1998)
.
In 2008, BAMN met with more success opposing the effort by former University of California Regent Ward Connerly
effort to place ballot initiatives on five state ballots to end race-based affirmative action. In spring and summer 2008, BAMN organized press conferences and street education efforts in Arizona, Missouri, and Oklahoma to convince voters from signing petitions to qualify these initiatives for state ballots. Connerly withdrew his petition drives in Missouri and Oklahoma. In Arizona, the effort succeeded at preventing the campaign from gathering the required number of verified signatures. A ballot initiative in Nebraska, the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative, succeeded at the polls in November 2008. That same day in Colorado, an identical initiative was defeated, Colorado Amendment 46 (2008)
.
BAMN's major tactics center on extensive college and high school outreach via pamphleting, debate, speakers, film and rallies as well as social events. It has also been accused of using the methods of violence and intimidation. Critics of BAMN tactics state that the group creates 'mob' scenes where democratic processes have become overwhelmed and individuals threatened. On April 1, 2003, BAMN spearheaded the organizing of the 50,000 person March on Washington to Defend Affirmative Action and Save Brown v. Board of Education
(1954). A sign from this march was featured in the Smithsonian Museum's 2004 exhibit, "Separate Is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education," commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision.
, "Some 50 students began marching on the board, knocking over a table before Lansing police could stop them". Supporters of Prop. 2 reported being threatened by aggressive BAMN partisans. -
-
-
Additionally "Ms. Gratz, who won her Supreme Court case against the University of Michigan... filed a report with Detroit police accusing Luke Massie, national chairman of the activist group By Any Means Necessary, of displaying a knife" from his right pants pocket, toying with it, and pulling it halfway out of his pants- but not drawing its blade- during a "heated" confrontation outside a state civil rights meeting. "It was one of several attempts to either intimidate me or attack my character", she said after a speech she gave to the National Association of Scholars in Boston. Massie denied the allegation. - -
Cass Technical teacher and long time BAMN supporter Steve Conn can be seen encouraging the DPS students to riot in a video posted on YouTube.com (see reference) He was later fired from DPS for allegedly endangering students during another protest. BAMN attorneys were able to get him his job back. Conn was awarded $300,000 damages.
reported that the FBI placed BAMN on a terrorist list, despite "no mention of violent acts."
According to the FBI, the group's protests were discussed in a meeting about alleged links to terrorist organizations. In response to the the monitoring of BAMN and other nonviolent groups, the Executive Director of Michigan's ACLU Kary Moss said that the FBI "posed a 'threat to legitimate dissent.'"
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist group that organizes demonstrations and litigation to achieve its aims, and it organizes primarily in colleges and K-12 schools.
Origins of BAMN
BAMN was originally formed in 1995 to oppose the July 20, 1995 decision by Regents of the University of CaliforniaRegents of the University of California
The Regents of the University of California make up the governing board of the University of California. The Board has 26 full members:* The majority are appointed by the Governor of California for 12-year terms....
to ban affirmative action. In 1997, BAMN expanded to Michigan, where it organized student support for the affirmative action policy of the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
at Ann Arbor (UMLS) as a result of a challenge to that policy via Grutter v. Bollinger
Grutter v. Bollinger
Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 , was a case in which the United States Supreme Court upheld the affirmative action admissions policy of the University of Michigan Law School...
. That case was decided in 2003 by the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in favor of permitting some racial admissions criteria- for at least the next 25 years, when all race considerations "should" be made illegal. The majority opinion by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
stated: "Effective participation by members of all racial and ethnic groups in the civic life of our Nation is essential if the dream of one Nation, indivisible, is to be realized."
Activism
BAMN's "Principles" advocate "a national policy of affirmative action," the central theme of most major BAMN campaigns. BAMN's Principle #3 states,"BAMN is committed to making real America's founding declaration that 'all men are created equal.' Real equality of rights and opportunities for women and [minorities] requires active, positive measures, [as well as] a national policy of affirmative action."BAMN states that it promotes the protection and expansion of civil rights for all under-represented classes throughout the United States, and is especially focused on perceived challenges to minority students via the defense of historic affirmative action standards.
BAMN became one of 44 parties in the Supreme Court's Grutter v. Bollinger
Grutter v. Bollinger
Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 , was a case in which the United States Supreme Court upheld the affirmative action admissions policy of the University of Michigan Law School...
case concerning Michigan Law School admissions; BAMN's chief strategist was reportedly one of a 'record number' who filed an "amicus" brief in the case.
The University of Michigan Law School case was heard at the same time as Gratz v. Bollinger
Gratz v. Bollinger
Gratz v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 244 , was a United States Supreme Court case regarding the University of Michigan undergraduate affirmative action admissions policy...
, concerning racial admissions policies in the University of Michigan (U-M) undergraduate school. While the Law School system was allowed to proceed for the period of one generation, the undergraduate school's specific admissions policy were struck down.
Since 1995, BAMN has organized a variety of college campaigns promoting affirmative action and defeat of contrary legislation written to end racial admissions policies. BAMN's campaigns were not successful in the polls over three state initiatives
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
curtailing strict racial quotas in three states: Michigan Prop. 2 'Civil Rights Initiative' (2006)
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative , or Proposal 2 , was a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan that passed into Michigan Constitutional law by a 58% to 42% margin on November 7, 2006, according to results officially certified by the Michigan Secretary of State. By Michigan law, the...
, California Prop. 209 (1996)
California Proposition 209 (1996)
Proposition 209 is a California ballot proposition which, upon approval in November 1996, amended the state constitution to prohibit public institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity. It had been supported and funded by the California Civil Rights Initiative Campaign, led by University...
and Washington State Washington Initiative 200 (1998)
Initiative 200
Initiative 200 was a Washington State initiative to the Legislature promoted by California affirmative-action opponent Ward Connerly and filed by Scott Smith and initiative entrepreneur Tim Eyman. It sought to prohibit racial and gender preferences by state and local government. It was on the...
.
In 2008, BAMN met with more success opposing the effort by former University of California Regent Ward Connerly
Ward Connerly
Wardell Anthony "Ward" Connerly is an American political activist, businessman, and former University of California Regent . He is also the founder and the chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, a national non-profit organization in opposition to racial and gender preferences...
effort to place ballot initiatives on five state ballots to end race-based affirmative action. In spring and summer 2008, BAMN organized press conferences and street education efforts in Arizona, Missouri, and Oklahoma to convince voters from signing petitions to qualify these initiatives for state ballots. Connerly withdrew his petition drives in Missouri and Oklahoma. In Arizona, the effort succeeded at preventing the campaign from gathering the required number of verified signatures. A ballot initiative in Nebraska, the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative, succeeded at the polls in November 2008. That same day in Colorado, an identical initiative was defeated, Colorado Amendment 46 (2008)
Colorado Amendment 46 (2008)
Amendment 46, also known as the "Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, was a proposed initiative on the Colorado ballot for 2008. If ratified, Article II of the Colorado Constitution would have stated:...
.
BAMN's major tactics center on extensive college and high school outreach via pamphleting, debate, speakers, film and rallies as well as social events. It has also been accused of using the methods of violence and intimidation. Critics of BAMN tactics state that the group creates 'mob' scenes where democratic processes have become overwhelmed and individuals threatened. On April 1, 2003, BAMN spearheaded the organizing of the 50,000 person March on Washington to Defend Affirmative Action and Save Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
(1954). A sign from this march was featured in the Smithsonian Museum's 2004 exhibit, "Separate Is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education," commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision.
Controversy
At a December 14, 2005 event during a Lansing hearing of the state's Board of Canvassers charged with certifying the language of the Prop. 2 Michigan Civil Rights InitiativeMichigan Civil Rights Initiative
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative , or Proposal 2 , was a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan that passed into Michigan Constitutional law by a 58% to 42% margin on November 7, 2006, according to results officially certified by the Michigan Secretary of State. By Michigan law, the...
, "Some 50 students began marching on the board, knocking over a table before Lansing police could stop them". Supporters of Prop. 2 reported being threatened by aggressive BAMN partisans. -
-
-
Additionally "Ms. Gratz, who won her Supreme Court case against the University of Michigan... filed a report with Detroit police accusing Luke Massie, national chairman of the activist group By Any Means Necessary, of displaying a knife" from his right pants pocket, toying with it, and pulling it halfway out of his pants- but not drawing its blade- during a "heated" confrontation outside a state civil rights meeting. "It was one of several attempts to either intimidate me or attack my character", she said after a speech she gave to the National Association of Scholars in Boston. Massie denied the allegation. - -
Cass Technical teacher and long time BAMN supporter Steve Conn can be seen encouraging the DPS students to riot in a video posted on YouTube.com (see reference) He was later fired from DPS for allegedly endangering students during another protest. BAMN attorneys were able to get him his job back. Conn was awarded $300,000 damages.
Terrorism Investigation
The American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
reported that the FBI placed BAMN on a terrorist list, despite "no mention of violent acts."
According to the FBI, the group's protests were discussed in a meeting about alleged links to terrorist organizations. In response to the the monitoring of BAMN and other nonviolent groups, the Executive Director of Michigan's ACLU Kary Moss said that the FBI "posed a 'threat to legitimate dissent.'"
Recognition & Awards
- The Drum Major for Justice Award, American Association for Affirmative Action
- "Unsung Hero" Honor, Michigan chapter of National Lawyers Guild (2006) - (In The Struggle, Newsletter of the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Vol. 3. No. 3, June 2006, page 5) [PDF link]
External links
- BAMN website
- Power, Politics & Money Web-log by Chetly Zarko, writer on race issues & Treasurer/Media Director for Michigan's Prop.2
- "BAMN Terrorism" Web-log by Chetly Zarko
- C.Zarko on 'BAMN Shenanigans' Web-log by Chetly Zarko
- C.Zarko on Lansing MI Board of Canvassers meeting 14.12.2005 Web-log by Chetly Zarko