The Missouri Democratic Party issued a statement this afternoon emphasizing its objections to “a proposed ballot initiative that would deny opportunities to Missouri women, students and minorities.

 ”The initiative would eliminate all affirmative action programs that currently exist in Missouri and that have contributed to the progress Missouri has made over the last half-century in the fight for civil rights and the rights of women in the workplace,” the party said in a statement.

The Democratic Party issued the statement after learning that the group behind the ballot proposal, the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative, has begun to collect signatures for the measure, with the aim of getting it on the November ballot.

The group went to court to successfully change the ballot title for the proposal; the judge agreed with the group that Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s office had written ballot language that was biased against the measure.

One of the leading forces behind the proposal is California businessman/conservative activist Ward Connerly, who has visited St. Louis to address groups about his opposition to affirmative action on the basis of race or gender.

Connerly, who is black (he opposes the phrase “African-American”), said in an interview a few months back that Missouri is among several targeted states for ballot measures next year to ban racial and gender preferences in public employment, contracting and education.

Instead, Connerly said there should be preferences to aid the poor.

The state Democratic Party said in Friday’s statement, “The initiative is being pushed by an out-of-state special interest group that has attempted similar efforts in numerous states to undermine civil rights advancements and turn out far right-wing voters in important election years.”

“If passed by these deep-pocketed, out-of-state special interests, this initiative will take away opportunities for women and minority business-owners and will deny some of Missouri ’s brightest children a college education,” said state Democratic Party chairman John Temporiti, of St. Louis County.  

The party adds that the public should “be aware of paid initiative signature-collectors who might try to persuade Missourians to sign a petition to get this measure on the ballot by claiming it would end discrimination. The measure actually would reverse efforts to end discrimination against minorities and women.”