United States: American Federation of Teachers mobilises communities across the country to advocate for schools and families
As part of its nationwide “Protect Our Kids, Our Families and Our Communities” mobilisation, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) brought together a broad coalition of educators, parents, and community allies to call attention to the growing pressures on working families in the United States and the urgent need to invest in public schools, healthcare, and public services.
“Life is getting harder for working families,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten, “but instead of helping kids, families and communities get ahead, the administration is cutting schools, attacking student borrowers, muzzling academic freedom, slashing healthcare and public services, and launching immigration raids that make communities less safe.”
Thousands of people participated in over 100 in-person events and online actions. AFT members and community allies marched forth on March 4 to join walk-ins, teach-ins, vigils, and online community actions stretching from New Hampshire to Hawaii. Together, the union’s 1.8 million members are making it clear who they are, what they’re fighting for, and what their kids, families and communities need to thrive.
The EI member organisation is fighting for progress in the face of serious headwinds, chalking up big wins over the last year for members and the students, patients, and families they serve.
“When this administration tried to cut education funding, the AFT fought to stop it,” added Weingarten. “And because of our advocacy, a bipartisan majority in Congress prevented those cuts from going forward. When Education Secretary Linda McMahon tried to erase civil rights protections with the stroke of a pen, the AFT and our allies went to court and won. And as this administration uses violence and fear to intimidate Minnesotans and others, our members are building mutual aid networks and protecting kids and communities.”
The AFT day of action comes a year to the day after the union first mobilised en masse to push back against the disastrous education policies of the incoming Trump administration.
