Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig "Cloaking Inequity" Blog posted "Today is my first hunger strike— my first fast. I have the opportunity today to learn from the example of Jesus Christ, Ghandi and Cesar Chavez. I stand in solidarity with 12 parents and community members who are on hunger strike for community-based public schools. I challenge you to join the fast today August 25, 2015" (Today: Join hunger strike for community-based public schools #FightForDyett: http://wp.me/p2D92I-2HF via @ProfessorJVH) His blog this morning is a must read for every American.
http://cloakinginequity.com/2015/08/25/today-join-hunger-strike-for-community-based-public-schools-fightfordyett/
In Chicago our public schools have become cash boxes for
politicians and the "for profit" charter school crowd. Money walks people, and money has made it's way into political campaigns across the nation from lobby groups for profit charter schools and testing companies. The private sector doesn't like democracy, they like control, and control is what they are buying in America.
In America five Supreme Court justices ruled:
Corporations are people, and
Money is free speech.
In America money buys elections, power and influence.
In America democracy is at risk.
In America there is no better example of that risk than the office of Chicago's mayor.
In Chicago public school control is in the mayor's office. In Chicago Mayor Rahm
has closed nearly a 100 community schools to make way for his new charter
schools.
In Chicago parents have no say in electing the school board, and local Black schools and the teachers
in those schools are targets.
Power corrupts, and a mayor with absolute power over
the school board corrupts completely. There is no greater threat to democracy than absolute power. The American Declaration of Independence
states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." When you
denied Americans the right to an elected school board you cut away their
aspirations as a free people. I argue Chicago is out of control and morally and
democratically corrupt. Every day Chicago denies it's citizens the right to elect their
own school board it threatens the people's right to be free. I argue that Mayor Rham would not be able to close
local public schools at will with an elected school board that has to answer to
the public. Chicago is a city that threatens the life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness of its citizens.
Chicago parents, students and teachers have pleaded for
their right to have a say in what happens in their public schools, they have
held rallies, marched, held sit in(s) and lay in(s). Their activists have been
banned form school board meetings, and have even been arrested. Chicago is not the
Windy City, but the City of injustice in my humble opinion.
Now Dyett parents
have taken to hunger strike. Jitu Brown the moral leader of Journey 4 Justice
said: "We are here today because we have been pushed to the point of putting
our bodies on the line to say, "Enough is enough!" We are tired of
the destabilizing of our schools. "
In Chicago the idea of community schools is at risk,
In Chicago childhood is at risk,
In Chicago democracy is at risk,
In Chicago the right to life at risk,
In Chicago liberty is at risk,
In Chicago the pursuit of happiness is at risk,
In Chicago democracy is at risk.
In Chicago we must draw the line,
In Chicago we must support their struggle,
In Chicago Americans must defend the people's aspirations to
be free,
In Chicago we must say to the Mayor Emmanuel and his Democratic
Machine the people want their public schools back.
In Chicago the cry must become "No Justice! No Votes!
In Chicago every American should call the mayor's office
(312.744.5000) to say 9 true words,
Enough is enough, we stand with Dyett hunger strikers.
Remember the life of Pastor Martin Niemoller an outspoken
public foe of Adolf Hitler. Pastor Niemoller who spent seven years in Nazi
concentration camps said:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not
speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak
out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for
me.
Trust me Chicago is their plan for the nation."
When you think if Chicago think of Martin Niemoller warning
about speaking up for others, because trust me the Chicago plan is the plan for
all our public schools.
In America the Deyett hunger strikers call us to action,
In America we must speak up for Deyett,
In America it's time to give Mayor Rham a call 312.744.5000.
Enough is Enough America!
Come stand with our brave Deyett hunger strikers that have
thrown their own bodies into this battle to save their public schools.
Jesse The Walking Man Turner
