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Science at LAUSD | Photo by r_neches
A teacher hunger strike protesting LAUSD budget cuts officially comes to an end today after 24 days. Nine participated with two making it to the end, according to LA Now.In an open letter on Day 6, Jose Lara, published an open letter to a few key board members about the strike.
This budget crisis is enormous, none of us doubt that. It is clearly too large, in fact, to balance by cutting and cutting. We need to find new sources of funds and that means fighting against those who would choose the politically easiest path to balance the budget: taking from the most vulnerable, our children. But instead of leading this fight, your choice to unnecessarily cut our children’s classrooms has distracted and divided us, leading even to calls for your recall.
We have begun this hunger strike to remind you of your purpose and your obligation to the communities that gave you your office. It is your responsibility to stand up for our children. Cesar Chavez once said that to teach our children what it means to be fully man or woman requires each of us to use our lives to show the way. We begin this hunger strike to demonstrate what that means through our personal sacrifice. It is our hope that you will join us by taking action.
With the strike done and little changes effect (they do believe the 500 saved teachers has to do with the strike), their next step is to start a recall either or both President Monica Garcia or board Vice President Yolie Flores Aguilar.
