Leaders, Musicians Launch Campaign to Stop "Pushouts" in Our Schools

FOR Immediate Release Friday, April 28, 2006
For more information: 510.225.8491


Aimee Allison, Wilson Riles, and Performers join Education Not Incarceration Coalition to launch a campaign to address the crisis of students pushed out of school and into prison

WHAT: A Festival and BBQ to benefit Education Not Incarceration

WHEN: Saturday, April 29, 2006, 1pm to 4pm

WHERE: Intertribal Friendship House 523 International Blvd. 94606 (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

WHO: Emcee Wilson Riles, Keynote Speaker Aimee Allison, Performances by Misty Browning, David Jenkins (“El Oso”) and Kati Mejia, Emcee Lynx, Beltaine’s Fire, Billy Trice Jr., and others.

Oakland, CA – Education Not Incarceration (ENI) an Oakland-based, national organization working to shift our priorities and tax dollars from mass imprisonment to socially relevant and just education, is hosting a Festival & BBQ for community members to come learn about our campaign to stop youth from being pushed out of school.

In Oakland over 50% of youth and 73% of African American males do not finish school. Throughout the country in inner-cities over 50% of African American males do not finish high school; 72% of these pushouts were jobless in their 20s; by their mid-thirties, 60% had spent time in prison.

Education Not Incarceration has worked extensively with youth, parents and educators at McClymonds Educational Complex and throughout Oakland to develop a campaign that seeks to make changes to the education system that will enable students to gain the support they need to stay in school.

On March 30th, 2006, Anthony Soltero, a student walkout leader in Ontario, California, was pushed to his death by the threats of his vice-principal. “Anthony’s death shows how deeply out of touch the education system has become with the needs of youth, especially youth of color. The Education Not Incarceration campaign to stop student pushouts is a well thought out program to create necessary changes.” said keynote speaker, Aimee Allison

”The issue of pushouts is central to our community. Students forced out of school through an education system that is not meeting their needs leads to unemployment and forces young people into criminal activity to survive. We can either invest in our children today or in their incarceration tomorrow.” said former Oakland City Councilmember and event Emcee, Wilson Riles.
For more information, please visit http://www.ednotinc.org or call 510.225.8491
--End –