Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) expressed their thanks to Fresno County voters for strongly opposing an effort to bypass state law and Fresno County supervisors’ efforts to continue using an offensive and derogatory slur against Native American women.

The Fresno County Registrar of Voters reports Measure B failed on a 63.75% to 36.25% vote.

Ramos, who successfully authored AB 2022, the law banning use of the word said, “We are appreciative that Fresno County voters opposed efforts to circumvent a law that removes the ‘S word’ as a place name. As a state we stand opposed to a word that demeans women and Native Americans.”

He added, “This is a word that contributes to making Native American women appear less than others. That ignorance and bigotry is a factor in the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. I am happy to see that voters chose to close the door on this painful chapter of Native American history.”

Ramos, the first and only California Native American elected to the state legislature, is chairperson of the California Native American Legislative Caucus.

Arambula stated, “The people have spoken. Today’s results ensure that California’s first people are listened to and respected now and in the future.”

Caballero commented, “I sincerely want to thank Fresno County voters for rejecting a misguided effort to continue using the ‘S’ word. The ‘S’ word evolved in another century when violence and bigotry prevailed in the treatment of Native Americans. This word was used to demean and devalue Native American women and deserves to be banned and regarded as unacceptable expression of hate.”