California Bans Affirmative Action via Proposition 209

California voters approved Proposition 209, the California Civil Rights Initiative, with 54% in favor, banning affirmative action in state government employment, education, and contracting. The measure was championed by Ward Connerly, a Black University of California regent. Black enrollment at UC Berkeley's law school dropped 81% and at UCLA law 50% the year after implementation. The initiative became a national model for anti-affirmative action campaigns.