Urgent Message to
Educators- from Andy Griggs
member of UTLA board of directors* (*for identification purposes
only)
AN URGENT MESSAGE TO LOS ANGELES EDUCATORS AND ALL THOSE CONCERNED WITH SOCIAL
JUSTICE ON THE WORLD CANT WAIT CALL TO DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME
I would like to echo the sentiments of the Oakland Educational Association who
recently unanimously passed a resolution to support the right of participation
in the November 2nd, 2005 day of protest and support the policy of
no reprisals against students, teachers, and others in the school community who
may take-off work or school to take part in protest activities that day. The
author of this resolution Larry Felson, teacher and OEA site rep at Oakland
High, Oakland, California wrote:
The continuing slaughter of the
Iraqi people! The exposure of Bush and the government surrounding New Orleans
and the horrendous treatment of Black people. The vicious attack on poor and
immigrant youth and youth of color represented by "No Child Left Behind,"
as well as the attempt to turn our schools into recruiting centers for their
wars of expansion and greed! These are outrageous crimes that must be stopped!
As the WORLD CANT WAIT call
puts it: "The Bush Regime is setting out to remake society very quickly,
in a fascist way, and for generations to come. A new movement is now forming to
stop this disastrous course by taking action and on November 2nd it begins: a
mass political resistance that will not stop until this regime is driven from
office."
There have been reports that at Fairfax High and other Los Angeles schools
there have been cases of harassment and intimidation of students who are
organizing for the Nov. 2 day of protests. I urge LA administrators to allow
students the exercise of their rights to express their opinion and to further
encourage all young people to question those policies that will affect them so
deeply--whether because of cuts to education and other social services that
will limit their opportunities--or, the even more obvious threat to them--a
life in the military where they can be used to kill others in a war that is
based on lies and deception!
I join with Larry Felson and
the Oakland Educators Association in calling all educators and others across
the country to take up WORLD CANT WAIT/DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME activities on
November 2nd and to support a policy of no reprisals against those who choose
to participate. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!
E-mail: worldcantwait_la@yahoo.com
Phone: (213)
924-8571
Address:
Los Angeles World Can't Wait
P.O. Box 48332
Los Angeles, CA 90048
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