May 17th is Take Back Our Schools Day

May 17th: TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS DAY IN OAKLAND, CA!

In honor of the historic verdict Brown v. Board of Education, which promised equal public education
for all on May 17, 1954, a growing tide of youth, educators, parents, union members, citizens, and
community organizations are calling for an end to the destructive takeover of the Oakland schools.

On May 17, we will teach in the streets of our city!

Download a flyer at:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/04/1734797.php

ACTIONS IN THE WORKS:
• City Council Resolution to declare May 17 “Take Back Our Schools Day.” We are calling on our politicians to
support a city-wide day of education and action.
• Youth March to Oakland City Center. Students -- who are most affected by takeovers of public school districts, school closures, and hostile contract negotiations -- will take field study trips to City Hall to participate in the day.
• Community Education. Educators of all types are asked to present community workshops on May 17th. The First
Unitarian Church and other downtown Oakland centers will host youth and adult-facilitated workshops on topics such as No Child Left Behind, the High School Exit Exam, and State Takeover. Curriculum is being developed for on-site teach-ins and will be posted to http://www.ednotinc.org (see curriculum link).

We call upon other cities to join us in solidarity!

Tentative Schedule:
Noon-1PM Rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza at Oakland City Hall (14th and Broadway)
1PM-4PM Teach-ins lead by students, Location TBA
4:30-6:30PM Rally at State Building on 15th and Clay Street or at the School District Office on 1025 2nd Ave

May 17: Take Back Our Schools Day is a project of Organize Da BAY, a coalition of youth dedicated to collective action to reclaim public
education including Youth Together, Californians for Justice, Tojil and the Xicana Moratorium Coalition, as well as the Coalition to Defend and Improve Public Education, which includes Oakland parents, students, educators, politicians, and representatives from ACORN, Oakland Education Association, Oakland Federation of Teachers, Californians for Justice, Million Worker March, American Federated County State Municipal Employees, Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network, Oakland Parents Together, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, CalCARE, PUEBLO, National Lawyers Guild, and Education Not Incarceration.


For more information on May 17: Take Back Our Schools Day, contact Raquel Jimenez (youth organizer) at 510.645-9213, Jonah Zern (parent/teacher organizer) at 510.654-8613, Michael Siegel (workshop organizer) at 510.289-3318, or Kali Akuno (community organizer) at
510.593-3956. Also, see http://www.oaklandrising.com for more information.