Thursday: May 8: Education Not Incarceration Community Meeting

Preparing for May 8 (http://www.may8.org), Education not Incarceration Rally in Sacramento

Teachers, youth and non-youth organizers please come to the Community leaders meeting on Thursday, April 17 (4:30-6:30PM at the Oakland City Hall City Hall- Hearing Room 2).

Youth please come and bring friends to the Youth Council meeting on Wednesday, April 16 (4-6PM at the Youth Empowerment Center), teachers and
youth organizers please bring youth to this meeting (its OK to come with them).

Please help us mobilize for May 8th's Education Not Incarceration Rally in
Sacramento (http://www.may8.org)

On May 8, 2003, the Day of the Teacher, students, parents, teachers, and
concerned community members will travel to Sacramento from all across
California to demand “Education not Incarceration.” We will rally in
front of the Capital building at noon and then conduct lobby visits with
legislatures.

Community Leaders Meeting:
Thursday, April 17, 4:30-6:30PM, Oakland City Hall- Hearing Room 2, 1st
Floor City Hall
RSVP: Marcie Chin, 510.444.0484
marcie [at] criticalresistance.org

Youth Council for May 8:
Wednesday, April 16, 4-6PM
Youth Empowerment Center at 1357 5th Street (Right by the West Oakland
BART Station), Please RSVP: Jonah Zern, 510.654.8613,
jzern1 [at] yahoo.com

Dear Friend,

We are entering the month of April and the axe has fallen on California’s
schools. 1,100 lay-offs in Oakland, all of Alameda Unified Schools
laid-off, at least 200 lay-offs in tiny Berkeley Unified Schools, 1,000
slips in San Francisco, and 10,000 lay-offs statewide! Rumor has it that
Richmond Schools has decided to cut all classes except their core classes
from their schedules. Our class sizes are increasing. We're losing
counselors. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS BEING SLAUGHTERED IN FRONT OF OUR EYES.

Meanwhile, the only significant area of California state spending that has
seen an increase is prison spending. While dramatically cutting state
education spending, Governor Gray Davis plans to increase prison spending
by 3%.

California is the richest state in the richest country. There is no
excuse for education cuts occurring in our state. A quality education is
a human right.

How you and your organization can help:
1. Endorse the May 8 demonstration (more information at http://www.may8.org)
2. Mobilize your network to attend.
3. Help us fundraise for buses and Amtrak tickets.
4. Attend the Community Leaders meeting on Thursday, April 17 from
4:30-6:30PM at the Oakland City Hall - Hearing Room.


Sincerely,

Wayne Au
National Coalition of Education Activists
Jonah Zern
East Bay Educators Justice Network