U.S. ENGLISH, Inc.: Towards a United America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2000

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Tim Schultz
800/787-8216
202/833-0100

U.S.ENGLISH Chairman Blasts Governor Keating

Washington, DC- U.S.ENGLISH Chairman/CEO Mauro E. Mujica today blasted Gov. Frank Keating, who on Thursday criticized a pending statewide ballot measure that will make English the official language of Oklahoma. "As an immigrant, I am personally offended that the governor has gone beyond mere reservations about the initiative, and has called its supporters narrow-minded and mean-spirited." Mujica explained. "Governor Keating talks about uniting the state, but that kind of name calling is truly divisive. Furthermore, the governor admitted that he hasnt even studied the text of the initiative! He hasnt read the law, yet he has magical insight into the motives of its proponents. I had hoped that this issue would unite the people of Oklahoma-polls show that it has over 90 percent public approval. But the governors demagoguery is nothing but divisive. The people of Oklahoma are not mean spirited. The governor owes the public an apology."

Keating made his remarks before the American Indian Chamber of Commerce Thursday after a press conference where the proposal was condemned by some leaders of several minority groups. Keating was quoted in the Friday edition of the Tulsa World. "To...say we will not print anything to help the lawful, tax-paying permanent residents is mean-spirited and would shortchange Oklahoma." According to the World, Keating said he has not studied the current English-only proposal that was recently certified by the Secretary of States Office, but said no services should be denied to U.S. citizens.

"I have some friendly advice for Frank Keating: Read laws before you criticize them," Mujica continued. "Had the governor had time to read the text of the law, he wouldve found that this measure would not deny anyone access to government. Had he picked up the phone, and called one of his friends who govern another state, he wouldve found that no immigrant has been denied access in the 25 states where English is official. And if he had bothered to talk to the overwhelming majority of Oklahoma state representatives, who passed this measure three times, perhaps he wouldn't have been so quick to call names. But apparently, the governor didnt have time for any of that. He shot from the hip, and missed badly."

U.S.ENGLISH is the nations oldest, largest citizens action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S.ENGLISH now has more than 1.4 million members nationwide, including more than 15,000 in Oklahoma.

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