Asian Americans furious at proposal allowing California colleges to choose students by race
Blacks and Hispanics under-represented in California colleges - but families fear bias if ban on selection by factors including race is lifted
Hundreds of Asian American families flocked to a community hall in northern California to learn about a state law that many fear would discriminate against their children in college admission because of their race.
"No! No! No!" the crowd chanted outside the hall in Cupertino, an affluent small city in the heart of Silicon Valley, responding to "SCA 5" shouted from a megaphone.
SCA 5 is a state constitutional amendment that seeks to lift the ban on the use of race, sex, colour, ethnicity or national origin in admission at California's public universities and colleges.
It was approved by the state senate last month but still needs assembly approval before it goes to a referendum.
I have not seen Chinese or Asian Americans get so involved in a very long time
Proponents of SCA 5 hope it will make it easier for under-represented minorities, such as black and Hispanic students, to secure enrolment. But Asian communities fear that this will come at their expense.