DAY 1: Teacher Rebellion Floods LA
By the numbers:
- 30,000 UTLA members signed in on picket lines across LA
- 900+ school sites participated – every school in LA joined the strike
- 10,000+ parents, students and community members joined on the picket lines.
- 50,000+ people march to LAUSD HQ, demanding action
Los Angeles flooded with public education supporters, demanding a reinvestment in our public schools. Not just a declaration and show of support for public education and teachers, but a rebuke to Austin Beutner’s agenda to starve and privatize our schools. This show of unity and determination sends a strong message to Beutner and the School Board that our members are determined to stay on the picket lines as long as we have to, that we are not playing games, that parents and community are behind us, that we are prepared to do whatever it takes to give our students a chance at a quality education.
Teachers quickly rebutted Beutner’s lies when he said only 3,500 teachers were on strike. This was an attempt to minimize the impact and power of our action. This is what UTLA members have been subjected to: lies and deception from an employer who continues to disrespect educators and students. UTLA leaders tonight call on members, parents and the community to hold even stronger picket lines tomorrow.
