HUNGRY FOR A BETTER EDUCATION Media Contacts: Community Organizer (English / Español) – Jessica Buchanan (562) 477-2652 Teacher Organizer (English / Español) – Kelly Flores (323) 286-5244 Teacher Organizer (English / Español) – Jose Lara (714) 864-0543 Fast Participant (English Only) – Sean Leys (323) 490-2412 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Teachers, Parents, and Community Members Announce Day 9 of the Hunger Strike for the Kids of LAUSD: Hungry for a Better Education June 4th, 2009, Los Angeles, California – The Hungry for a Better Education fast continues on to day nine and continues to grow. Last night, hunger strikers and campout organizers addressed the House of Representatives of the teachers’ union, UTLA. After debate, UTLA officially endorsed a bargaining position consistent with the goals of Hungry for a Better Education. The teachers’ union IS willing to offer temporary concessions to save the jobs of teachers and stop class size increases. The only remaining obstacle to saving these classrooms is Superintendent Cortines and Board Members García, Flores-Aguilar, and Vladovic. The Hungry for a Better Education fast was created by an ad-hoc group of teachers and community members independently of UTLA or any other organization. While some of the participants have received layoff notices, many have not. Participants are unified by their belief that students must have a quality education; they are not taking this action for themselves. This is a fast inspired by a genuine belief in the importance of dedication, sacrifice, and conscience. The goal of the participants is to pressure Superintendent Cortines and inspire Board of Education to take a stand for the children of Los Angeles. Currently, Superintendent Cortines refuses to negotiate to save these classrooms and has now cancelled several negotiating sessions with UTLA. Rather than working to save these classrooms he has instead spent his time on a campaign of disinformation, insisting the school district has no money when it in fact has nearly a half a billion dollars of unspent stimulus money. If any one of the mentioned school board members joined with the three board members who have consistently called for saving classrooms they would have the ability to resolve this immediate crisis. Instead, they choose to side with the superintendent. President Obama intended this stimulus money to be used to save jobs and even called in his inaugural address for workers to make sacrifices to stop layoffs. Hungry for a Better Education and, now, the teachers’ union is calling for just that. Tonight, hunger strikers will be joining a new campout at Miguel Contreras Learning Center where State Senator Gloria Romero will join them. Solidarity fasters will again celebrate the breaking and beginning of fasts with other teachers, parent, and students at a potluck dinner. At least two of the hunger strikers will again campout with teachers and community members. While health concerns have resulted in many of the original fasters breaking their fasts, others continue a strict water-only fast and have been joined by dozens more who are fasting for short durations in solidarity. Fasts have begun at schools from Wilson High to Jordan High. Fifteen teachers are joining the fast this week at Lincoln High alone. Hunger strikers will be available for interview in both today and tomorrow after 6:00 at the campout at Miguel Contreras Learning Center. Demands 1) Protect out students’ education by NOT increasing class size 2) Protect the future of education in LAUSD by NOT laying off our new teachers Location Contreras Learning Center Campout June 4th, 5th, 6:00 PM until morning Miguel Contreras Learning Center 322 South Lucas Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90017 Original Fasters available on Day 9: Sean Leys Teacher at Lincoln High School, fast organizer, English only (323) 490-2412 Martin Terrones Filmmaker, community activist, founder / Executive Director of Chicano/Latino Artists for Social Equality (CLASE), English and Español (310) 591-7560 Sample Press Links: ABC: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6843947 A Day Like This: http://adaylikethis.com/?p=56 CBS: http://cbs2.com/video/?id=104657@kcbs.dayport.com NBC: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Straving_For_Education_Los_Angeles.html http://tr.im/n0pT http://tinyurl.com/nfmbcy KRCA: http://tinyurl.com/nxnr56 KTLA: http://tinyurl.com/n56jnx http://tinyurl.com/mwt7m4 La Opinion: http://www.impre.com/laopinion/noticias/2009/5/31/huelga-de-hambre-en-escuela-sa-127592-2.html LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/hunger-strike.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hunger-strike28-2009may28,0,2354830.story