------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the June 20, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
STUDENTS, TEACHERS RALLY AGAINST BUDGET CUTS Young protesters, like those pictured above, joined forces with the New York City public school teachers' union and popular hip-hop performers to lead a massive June 4 rally for better funding for city schools. They all descended on City Hall to protest a scheduled June 5 budget vote to ratify massive cuts from education. At some schools students walked out of classes early to join the protests. Many reported physical abuse and racist slurs from police. The Associated Press and an eyewitness account on the New York City Indymedia Web site both reported that police maced some Black youths. Many who marched across the Brooklyn Bridge were blocked from joining the rally. On the day of the mobilization, police made it difficult to enter the rally area and gave conflicting directions. But few were discouraged. Thirteen people were arrested, including musician Wyclef Jean, who lay down on the street in civil disobedience after cops refused to let him near the stage. A who's who of hip-hop and R&B artists came out to support the students' and teachers' demands, including Alicia Keyes, P. Diddy, Chuck D, LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z and Dead Prez. --Sara Catalinotto - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
