California NAACP Endorses Historic New Indian Gaming Agreements

SACRAMENTO –The Coalition to Protect California’s Budget & Economy today announced that the California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has formally endorsed the four historic state-tribal Indian gaming agreements negotiated by the Governor and ratified by the Legislature with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; the Morongo Band of Mission Indians; the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians; and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. The California NAACP also opposes referendum efforts to cancel the agreements.

News of the California NAACP’s endorsement comes in the wake of this week’s California Field Poll finding that California voters strongly support the four agreements, and would vote to approve the compacts should the referenda qualify and appear on the February 2008 statewide ballot.

The California NAACP is a part of the National NAACP, the oldest civil rights organization in America. Today the California State NAACP boasts 72 branches and youth units mobilized across the state to help ensure racial justice and equality.

The California NAACP joins a broad coalition of public safety, taxpayer, education, labor, local government, business, Indian Tribes and community groups in supporting the four agreements and opposing the referendum efforts.

For more information, please visit our website at www.YESforCalifornia.com.

Media with additional inquiries about the Coalition to Protect California’s Budget & Economy can contact Roger Salazar at (916) 444-8897.