The march will begin March 18, the day after the Chicago union elections, a sign that CORE is pretty confident. Expect a vicious attack on them from the mainstream press in the days before the election to try to influence the vote.
I know that some Unity people are rooting against Karen Lewis, especially after she embarrassed the hell out of some of them when she appeared at the UFT last month and talked about how they gave up the perks when they got elected. Oh, sitting in that room at that moment was oh so much fun.
Well we know from some of the Unity comments on the blogs during the elections that they think that these school closings are what the CTU deserve for daring to stand up and strike instead of collaborating. Of course many of the 150 plus schools closed under Bloomberg through 2010 came WITH the UFT collaboration. The rest had court, not street resistance. Given a choice, would Bloomberg prefer the current Unity leadership of a Chicago-like leadership? One MORE reason to come to Saturday's MORE meeting.
This just in from Diane Ravitch:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin
May 9, 2013 312/329-6250
Thousands
prepare for a three-day march against school closings as Chicago’s
mayor continues his assault on working-class people under the guise of
education reform
CHICAGO
– As the city braces itself for the largest assault on public education
in the country, thousands of parents, students, teachers, clergy,
citizens and community leaders are preparing for a “long march” against
school closings on May 18, 19 and 20. Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)
President Karen Lewis said the non-violent demonstration is necessary
because “we have a mayor who refuses to listen to reason, research and
logic,” in his campaign to destroy 54 school communities which will
impact about 50,000 children.
The
30-plus mile march is themed, “Our City. Our Schools. Our Voice,” and
will include simultaneous routes from the West and South sides of the
city. Protestors intend to walk each day past many of the 54 school
communities slated for closure and their efforts will culminate in a
mass demonstration downtown. It is sponsored by the CTU, the Grassroots
Education Movement, SEIU Local 1, Unite Here Local 1 and Chicago PEACE,
an interdenominational coalition of clergy leaders from across the city.
Donations are pouring in from across the country.
“Despite
the testimony of thousands of parents, teachers and people who work and
live in the school communities impacted, Rahm Emanuel is dedicated to
entering the history books as having destroyed the most public schools
in one year than anyone,” Lewis said. “He refuses to listen to
independent hearing officers, law enforcement officials, educators,
researchers, parents and the students themselves. We have no choice but
to use the power of organizing and direct action to engage in what will
be a long fight to restore sanity to our school district.”
The
march kicks off at 10:00 a.m. on May 18 on the South Side at Jesse
Owens Elementary School, 12450 S. State St., and on the near West Side
at Jean de Lafayette Elementary School, 2714 W. Augusta Blvd.
“School
closings hurt children academically and the mayor’s plan will also put
thousands of students’ safety at risk and many public school employees
may lose their jobs,” Lewis said. “We must do whatever is necessary to
stop this assault on the working class and the poor. Instead of just
getting angry we must organize. Tell Emanuel, the Board, the school CEO
and their corporate sponsors that this is our city, these are our
schools and we will use our voice to fight for justice.”
Independent
hearing officers reviewed the Chicago Public Schools’ list of 54 slated
closings and have recommended removing 14 from the list saying those
schools don't meet the state standards and are in violation of the law.
The mayor’s hand-picked Chicago Board of Education will vote on the
issue on Wednesday, May 22. Shortly thereafter, a massive voter
registration drive will commence throughout the city.
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