Mass Rally Against Budget Cuts set for 4:00 p.m. today
A mass rally is scheduled on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 4pm at the Federal Plaza at Dearborn and Adams to oppose the massive Chicago school budget cuts. CORE, one of five caucuses running in the Chicago Teachers Union election May 21, the Chicago Youth Initiating Change (CYIC) and the Grass Educational Movement (GEM) are co-sponsoring a press conference before the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday and the rally at 4pm.
These organizations will be presenting solutions on how to solve the current educational budget crisis in which CPS chief Ron Huberman is demanding a formula of 35 students in every classroom, in addition to drastic cuts to non-varsity sports programs, bi-lingual and gifted educational programs, and afterschool programs.
The demonstration will march to local, state and federal government buildings in order to provide public officials with a list of demands, according to a CORE/GEM press release.
These actions are in response to the $600 million deficit, which will drastically impact the Chicago Public School system.
“Join students, parents, teachers, and community members as they take to the streets to fight to save public education in Chicago,” the press release stated.
About 600 students from several high schools and elementary schools two weeks ago were out in force surrounding the Board of Education building where they protested the proposed budget cuts.
They marched around the block a few times, before marching to the federal building, state building and City Hall to demand action from the legislators.
“This is a peaceful way to fight for funding for our schools,” said Lashawn Gordon, a senior at the North Lawndale Charter School.
It should be noted that the spirited and surprising well-organized protest seemed entirely student run with an absence of teachers and only a sprinkle of parents.
Gordon said he found out about the protest through Facebook, an online social network that keeps students up to date at almost lightening speed.
