Moments from March 4
Lee Cressey
Issue date: 3/18/10 Last update: 3/18/10 at 2:46 AM PST
Section: March 4 Demonstrations
It's been two weeks since "March Forth" on March 4 and organizers are trying to keep the momentum going for the next big day of action in the fight for public education. Many said this is just the beginning. Here are quotes, scenes, chants and rants from that day.
"Chop from the top," was the chorus to Laney Black Student Union Vice President Jabari Shaw's song, which he performed in the Laney Quad and later in Frank Ogawa Plaza. It addressed the fact that many administrators in the Peralta District are getting raises while classified staff, part-time teachers, and classes are being cut.
"What gets taken from us is inversely proportional to how hard we fight back," Laney baking student Nick Robinson said. "It's our duty as Laney students to get in the streets and fight back." Robinson carried a sign in Frank Ogawa that read: "Aid for All".
"This is a beautiful thing," Association of Raza Educators member Jessica Aguilar told the crowd during the Oakland rally. "Take a second to look around and take in the positive energy."
Aguilar read facts and statistics to the crowd that resonated with the chants of "Schools, Not jails." She said the State of California spends $49,000 a year per prisoner, while spending only $5500 a year per student in the Oakland Unified School District.
ALSC President Ju Hong could be seen dancing to "Chop from the top" in the Laney Quad (http://bit.ly/bj9Blr); rallying students in Frank Ogawa Plaza with "No cuts. No fees. Education should be free"-until his voice gave out.
He bore a huge banner that read, "No cuts to education" while representing Laney in San Francisco's civic center. Hong wore a green armband that signified Laney College, and its solidarity with K-12, UC and CSU students, faculty and workers.
"We are facing overwhelming adversity in just graduating high school," Laney student Hannibal Shakur informed the Oakland crowd as he addressed the racism that is happening in the UCs. "So when we get to the college level, its an even more intense struggle for us."
"Chop from the top," was the chorus to Laney Black Student Union Vice President Jabari Shaw's song, which he performed in the Laney Quad and later in Frank Ogawa Plaza. It addressed the fact that many administrators in the Peralta District are getting raises while classified staff, part-time teachers, and classes are being cut.
"What gets taken from us is inversely proportional to how hard we fight back," Laney baking student Nick Robinson said. "It's our duty as Laney students to get in the streets and fight back." Robinson carried a sign in Frank Ogawa that read: "Aid for All".
"This is a beautiful thing," Association of Raza Educators member Jessica Aguilar told the crowd during the Oakland rally. "Take a second to look around and take in the positive energy."
Aguilar read facts and statistics to the crowd that resonated with the chants of "Schools, Not jails." She said the State of California spends $49,000 a year per prisoner, while spending only $5500 a year per student in the Oakland Unified School District.
ALSC President Ju Hong could be seen dancing to "Chop from the top" in the Laney Quad (http://bit.ly/bj9Blr); rallying students in Frank Ogawa Plaza with "No cuts. No fees. Education should be free"-until his voice gave out.
He bore a huge banner that read, "No cuts to education" while representing Laney in San Francisco's civic center. Hong wore a green armband that signified Laney College, and its solidarity with K-12, UC and CSU students, faculty and workers.
"We are facing overwhelming adversity in just graduating high school," Laney student Hannibal Shakur informed the Oakland crowd as he addressed the racism that is happening in the UCs. "So when we get to the college level, its an even more intense struggle for us."
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