In 1996, Californians voted for Proposition 209, a ballot initiative to end racial preferences in state hiring. A group of activist organizations, known by the acronym BAMN, is now challenging Proposition 209 in a lawsuit, in the belief that the lack of race-based preference in admissions to California institutions of higher learning is unconstitutional.

Laurie Morrow of the National Association of Scholars gives a link-rich account of this development here.