San Francisco Bay Area Residents March for Education

San Pablo, California, April 5, 2004. March for Education is holding a rally to send off the marchers at 4:00 PM on Friday, April 9th in front of Downer Elementary School in San Pablo, (1777 Sanford Ave., San Pablo, CA) and also will have a rally when they reach Sacramento at 1:00 PM on Friday April 16th in front of the California State Capitol (10th Street and L). Both rallies will have speakers and cultural activities from the community and the public is encouraged to attend. The most important rally will be in Sacramento on April 16th, however people can join up with the march whenever they like. For route information from April 10, 2004 through April 16, 2004 please contact 510/223-5820 or Opportunity West at 510/236-5812.


March for Education is a grassroots organization of parents, children, teachers, community leaders and concerned citizens who came together shortly before the West Contra Costa County School District’s announcement that they are eliminating sports, libraries, counselors, and other programs and personnel. They insist on equity in education funding, full funding of Proposition 98, and elimination of the debt negotiated with the State after the bankruptcy bailout in 1991.

March for Education has had a number of positive and fruitful meetings with several California state representatives including Senator Tom Torlakson. As quoted in the West County Times on Sunday April 4, 2004, “Robert Oakes, press secretary for Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, said the senator hopes Schwarzenegger hears the group’s plight. ‘He’s a strong supporter of bringing this message to the Capitol,’ Oakes said of Torlakson, who plans to join the marchers about two hours outside Sacramento.”

March for Education members and students from several schools have been writing Governor Schwarzenegger asking him to meet with the marchers after their rally on April 16th. They’re calling this letter-writing campaign “A Penny for Education.” Each person who writes is encouraged to enclose a penny for education. More details can be found on the March for Education website.

March for Education has received new endorsements from Hercules, Pinole, Rodeo and Crockett NAACP; Richmond NAACP; El Cerrito NAACP; SEIU (South Bay Local 715); West County Parents; PinoleCARE; ASU Senators of Contra Costa College; and Youth Together. Other endorsements include Council Member Paul Morris, City of San Pablo; Council Member Genoveva Calloway, City of San Pablo; WCCUSD School Board Member Glen Price; WCCUSD School Board Member George Harris, III; Comité Downer; Richmond Progressive Alliance; Teachers for a Progressive Union; the Barbara Alexander Academy; and the Education Not Incarceration Coalition, statewide.