|
|
|
|
NEWS & LETTERS, June - July 2009
L.A. schools protests
Los Angeles--On June 9, 700 to 1,000 mostly Latina/o and some Black students from inner-city high schools, along with teachers and community activists of all races, marched to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) downtown, where the Board of Directors were meeting to cut more positions.
Several signs read "Black & Brown = Most Teachers Cut." A woman professor of Chicana Studies said, "We won't stop until they bail out our teachers and schools." A 10th grade teacher said, "Of the $1 billion stimulus money received, half has been put into a savings account." There are hunger strikes at various schools to try to hold on to the terminated teachers. Teachers and activists plan to camp out in front of the LAUSD building.
The struggle started on May Day, then, on May 15, 38 teachers along with A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), were arrested for blocking traffic in front of the LAUSD, protesting the termination of 2,500 teachers and larger class sizes. They chanted, "Don't raise class size" as the police moved in to arrest them.
The same day, 1,000 teachers, students, parents and supporters, dressed in black, demonstrated outside the LAUSD. Hundreds of students from many different high schools and colleges walked out to support the teachers.
On May 19, Californians overwhelmingly defeated five state propositions put on the ballot by the state legislature. Essentially, they were cuts on various social services to help balance the state budget.
The governor is also proposing drastic cuts in healthcare--including for the very poor--in welfare and education, borrowing local property tax money, forcing cities to cut fire protection, libraries, and state employee wages. He is leaving in place corporate tax loopholes and the Republicans' historic "No new taxes" which refers to taxes on corporations and the very rich. He now supports offshore drilling to help balance the budget. Many teachers are protesting by going on a fast.
--Basho
|
