Massive Civil Rights 'March for Educational Justice' to demand moratorium on Rahm Emanuel's school closing 'Hit List'...Union to hold Monday, May 13, press conference on planning for the march to stop school closings
As the date nears for the Chicago Board of Education's planned vote to close 54 of the city's public schools in the largest school closing in U.S. history, the Chicago Teachers Union and its allies are planning a massive march across the city of Chicago, scheduled to converge at the school board on the day of the vote. "The 'Our City. Our Schools. Our Voice: Three-Day March for Education Justice, will convene May 18, 19 and 20," a CTU press release issued May 10 stated. "The route will include many of the 54 school communities slated for closure and parents, teachers, students and residents who will impacted by this issue will feed the march as it moves through their respective communities."
The organizers of the march will hold a press conference at Mayo Elementary School at the end of the school day on Monday May 13, 2013.
No one is predicting the size that will eventually converge on downtown Chicago by the time the remaining six members of the school board meet on May 22, but the echoes of the most memorable marches of the Civil Rights era have been affirmed across the city.
According to a press release issued by the CTU on May 10, 2013:
NEWS ADVISORY (For Planning Purposes). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin
May 10, 2013 312/329-6250 StephanieGadlin@ctulocal1.com
CTU President Karen Lewis, parents, labor leaders, community activists and students to release details of three-day march against school closings on Monday
CHICAGO – School communities slated for closing are joining forces with labor groups, churches and advocacy organizations in a three day march against school closings. Thousands of people are expected to participate. Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis will join the leaders of this protest at a 4 p.m. press conference to announce the route and march details. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s intent to close 54 schools will put more than 50,000 students at risk — academically and physically. Despite research, facts, testimony from thousands of parents, academics, child welfare advocates and an independent panel of ex-judges that show school closings are bad public policy he intends to order his school board to go through with the closures anyway.
WHO: CTU President Karen Lewis, SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff, parents, community activists, teachers, and others. The 30-plus mile, unity march is themed, “Our City. Our Schools. Our Voice,” and will include simultaneous routes from the West and South sides of the city. Marchers will unite in an afternoon rally at City Hall on the last leg of the protest.
WHAT: Will conduct a Press Conference to announce pertinent details about a three-day march against school closings.
WHEN: Monday, May 13, 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Mayo Elementary School, 249 E. 37th Street, Chicago
WHY: The “Our City. Our Schools. Our Voice: Three-Day March for Education Justice,” will convene May 18, 19 and 20. The route will include many of the 54 school communities slated for closure and parents, teachers, students and residents who will impacted by this issue will feed the march as it moves through their respective communities. This protest is being organized 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.
