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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 1999

Contact:

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

U.S.ENGLISH CRITICIZES LAWSUITS SEEKING TO OVERTURN OFFICIAL ENGLISH LAW

Just weeks before Alaska's official English initiative becomes state law, two groups who opposed the ballot measure in November have filed lawsuits seeking to strike it down. "These lawsuits seek to do nothing less than overturn an election," explained Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman/CEO of U.S.ENGLISH. "Opponents of our common language couldn't win at the ballot box, so they're hoping to find a single sympathetic judge to overrule the overwhelming choice of Alaskans."

One lawsuit was filed by three residents of the city of Togiak, including the mayor and a city councilman. The other was filed in Anchorage by various government officials and residents.

U.S.ENGLISH Director of Research Eric Stone explained "The Togiak is based on unfounded concerns about actions that are explicitly exempted by the initiative. For example, the mayor complains that he will be banned from speaking Y'upik to his constituents. But Ballot Measure 6 specifically allows for elected officials to speak to their constituents in other languages. The Anchorage lawsuit even more disturbing. It essentially asks a judge to create a new Constitutional right-the right to receive government services in whatever language one chooses. In a state with 105 languages, that's a recipe for disaster."

Currently, Alaska does state business like driver's license exams in only English, while other states, like California, offer services in as many as 30 languages. "The initiative in Alaska was an attempt to keep things in Alaska the way they are," Mujica continued. "70% of Alaskans don't want to start making the same mistakes as the Lower 48. We will be working with our members to ensure that the voice of the people will be respected."

U.S.ENGLISH is a national, non-profit, non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to promoting English as the common language of the United States. The group was founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, and now has over 1.3 million members nationwide, including more than 3,000 in Alaska. Currently, 25 states have official English laws.

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