Following in the historic foot-steps of their parents’ generation, college students from 52 campuses nationwide and in California are converging on California this summer to launch Freedom Summer ‘96, a massive grassroots voter education and registration campaign to defeat the tricky California Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI). Freedom Summer ‘96 is modeled after "Freedom Summer 1964," in which college students in Mississippi focused the nation’s attention on bigotry and hatred. Spearheaded by the Feminist Majority, Freedom Summer ‘96 is a project of the NO on CCRI campaign — a vast coalition of over 200 women’s and civil rights organizations.

The first two waves of 200 students completed their training in early June and early July in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Trainings will continue in August, September, and October. "Free- dom Summer ‘96 students will be working across the state to alert voters — especially young women and working women — to CCRI’s sneak attack on affirmative action programs and sex discrimination law," said Justine Andronici, Freedom Summer ‘96 project coordinator.

Freedom Summer ‘96 activists are working in squads of five in California communities, where they are recruiting and training local volunteers. Their training gave them a background in affirmative action and sex discrimination law, as well as the nuts and bolts of running a voter registration drive and organizing their communities. Prominent national women’s and civil rights leaders spoke at the trainings, including Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority; Dolores Huerta, Vice President of the United Farm Workers; Geneithia Hayes, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in California; Patricia Ireland, President of the National Organization for Women; Kathy Spillar, National Coordinator of the Feminist Majority; Julie Su of the Asian Pacific American Legal Defense Fund; Molly Munger of the NAACP; Jim Lafferty with the National Lawyers’ Guild and a 1964 Freedom Summer activist; Connie Rice of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Toni Carabillo, Vice President of the board of the Feminist Majority; and Erwin Chemerinsky, a leading constitutional law scholar with the University of Southern California Law Center.

As future training sessions approach, requests to participate in Freedom Summer stream in daily. People from around California have opened their homes to provide free housing for Freedom Summer ‘96 students. "We are flooded with people who want to help," said Pat Ewing, campaign manager of the NO on CCRI Campaign.

Smeal commented on the outpouring of support from young people to defeat CCRI. "Some cynics my age think young women just take for granted the rights our generation won," said Smeal. "Forget it! These young women are determined to keep those rights and to go one better — to win full equality in their lifetime."

Students from a broad spectrum of colleges are participating in Freedom Summer ‘96, from state universities to community colleges to Ivy Leagues. Nohelia Canales, a recent graduate of Mt. St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, was inspired to join Freedom Summer ‘96 because "my future is on the line in this election. I can’t just sit by and watch while this fraudulent initiative tries to turn back the clock on the progress of the civil rights and women’s rights movements." Canales will be entering medical school this fall because of an affirmative action program for young women and people of color in math and science.

To help with Freedom Summer & Freedom Fall— as an activist, a volunteer, or by making a donation of money or housing — please call (213) 651-0495.