Early polling showed overwhelming support for Proposition 187 even among Latino communities. It would be an uphill battle to mount a campaign against this anti-immigrant bill. This chapter discusses the early and divided reactions to Proposition 187 among immigrant communities and even within the Republican and Democratic parties.  

Hear from Antonia Hernández and Thomas Saenz of Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF); Gloria Molina of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; California state senator Maria Elena Durazo; former California State Senate Majority Leader  Richard Polanco; Stewart Kwoh of Asian Americans Advancing Justice; and Miya Iwataki, of L.A. Public Health’s Office of Diversity & Cultural Competency.