Judge Denies Injunction
Against Proposition 227

(WASHINGTON) — In a preliminary injunction hearing,
Federal District Judge Charles Legge denied an
injunction sought against Proposition 227 — the
initiative which effectively ended bilingual education
in California. The judge's decision yesterday denied the plaintiff's
motion to stop implementation of this initiative.

Judge Legge also ordered the plaintiffs to restate
their class action claims, and expressed his doubts
that MALDEF and the other plaintiffs represent all
Hispanics.

This ruling means California schools must implement
the English intensive program required by Proposition
227, overwhelmingly passed by California voters this
past June.

The Center for Equal Opportunity, along with 18
Hispanic parents and children, have been allowed to
intervene in this case. CEO will argue through its
attorneys, Mountain States Legal Foundation, that it
is bilingual education which violates the rights of
language-minority students.

"Contrary to the claims of MALDEF and the other
plaintiffs, it is the old system of bilingual education
that denies Hispanic children equal educational
opportunities, and discriminates against them because
of national origin," said Linda Chavez, CEO's president.