a series of meetings in June, 1977, held at various schools around the District, in the manner described to a news reporter by their leader:

“… The whole tenor of the meeting was get ready — it's (busing) coming and there is nothing you can do about it. That was the way it was presented. Make whatever accommodations you have to but just accept it.”

Instead of “just accepting it,” the president and about 300 other members of Groundswell, during the period from about June 1, 1977, to about October 1, 1977, had gathered the signatures of about 22,300 persons from all parts of California, including the District, in support of a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution called the “Neighborhood Schools Amendment,” which included a provision that “(n)o student shall be compelled to attend public school other than the one nearest his residence....”

The petitions in support of the proposed constitutional amendment had been submitted to their congressman, but realistically they could not rely on the necessary support in the House of Representatives to gain support from that source.

In the period after witnessing the manifestation of the strong opposition of its constituents to forced busing, the San Diego Board then made an effort to avoid a busing order by adopting an “all-voluntary” plan centered upon magnet schools. Progress on the integration program was reviewed annually by the Court; regardless, it appeared early in 1979 that the Carlin Plaintiffs would make a strong bid for court-ordered busing at the annual July review.
 

In the meantime the Groundswell group had learned of my commentary, leading to requesting that I represent them, following the steps described in a declaration to the Carlin Court by their president: