MASS PUBLIC MEETING TO STOP ALL SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Saturday, April 18, 2009, 4:00pm

Northwest Activities Center 18100 Meyers, Detroit, MI 48235 Room TBA Parking on Site

The State of Michigan has proposed closing 23 Detroit public schools this summer. In 2007, 32 DPS schools were closed with disastrous results. BAMN’s walk-out and legal campaign stopped the planned closings of 2008. If we unite, we can stop this new assault on the education, safety and dignity of Detroit students.

• Stop the planned school closures - keep all DPS schools open! No teacher layoffs!
• Defend Public Education! No charterization or privatization of public schools!
• Use federal stimulus funds to rebuild, remodel and maintain Detroit Public Schools, lower class size, provide adequate quantities of up-to-date books, supplies and equipment.
• Stop suburban districts from exploiting the crisis of DPS by recruiting Detroit students to obtain their per-pupil allocation money while segregating them into separate and inferior facilities. Create an elected Metropolitan-Wide Educational Authority to give parents of Detroit children attending suburban and charter schools an equal voice in their children’s education.
• Full curriculum - art, music, foreign language, organized sports and AP courses at every school.
• Create safe school environments by providing quality education - Stop turning our schools into prisons!
• Equal, Quality, Integrated Education is a civil right! Build the New, Youth-Led Civil Rights Movement!

LA Students Win César Chávez Holiday!
Big Step for getting holiday actually honored throughout California, and for winning national holiday

After 2 years of petitioning, walking out, and marching, LA students have won the César Chávez Holiday in LAUSD! This is a big step forward for getting California's Chávez Holiday—which is state law—actually honored throughout the state and for making Chávez's Birthday a national holiday!

See reports from past César Chávez days of action: http://www.bamn.com/chavezday/mar30-2007.asp

Read more below:

- L.A. BAMN PRESS RELEASE -

Students Declare Victory in the fight for Recognition of the Chavez Holiday
LAUSD Board Members pass Resolution making Chavez Holiday officially recognized District holiday

See news article: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11992033

BAMN organizers announce Chavez Day assemblies in schools across LAUSD focusing on the Dream Act

Students at Wilson High School and organizers from BAMN (Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary) declare victory in the fight for the recognition of the Cesar Chavez Birthday Holiday, and announce assemblies and other activities being held at schools across LAUSD in honor of Chavez Day that will highlight the Dream Act and the struggles of the Latina/o and immigrant communities today.

The LAUSD Board of Education voted Tuesday to make the Cesar Chavez Holiday an official holiday in LAUSD. Hoku Jeffrey, BAMN Southern California Coordinator said, "This is a victory for the new civil rights movement. Celebrating and honoring California's Cesar Chavez Holiday is the best way for LAUSD to show Latina/o and immigrant students that they believe in their equality and right to be treated with dignity and respect. Two years of petitioning, walking-out and marching have taken the new civil rights movement an important step forward."

Assemblies for the holiday are being planned across the district, in some schools for the first time, for the Chavez Holiday. BAMN organizer and Bravo Medical Magnet High School graduate Magally Miranda said, "The youth of Los Angeles are raising the visibility of the Latina/o and immigrant communities. For too long, school districts across the state of California have ignored the Chavez Holiday and the demands for equal treatment and dignity of our communities. We will not accept racist second-class treatment any longer!"

"The families and communities of undocumented immigrant students contribute billions of dollars in poorly paid work and taxes. It is only fair and just that their children are able to receive financial aid and pursue their dreams like everyone else," said BAMN Organizer Otto Zamudio. "By fighting for the Dream Act on the Chavez Holiday we will be honoring the memory of Cesar Chavez in the best way possible.

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WATCH THE VIDEO of the Independent Public Tribunal to Investigate Oscar Grant's Killing

The March 4, 2009 independent public tribunal to investigate the killing of Oscar Grant is essential viewing, and the VIDEO of it should be seen by the new civil rights movement far and wide.

The March 4th tribunal:
• Established that THIS WAS MURDER: Johannes Mehserle intended to use his gun, not his taser. It also established some of Mehserle's racist and violent history. Tony Pirone and the other BART police were accomplices to murder.
• Systematically exposed the cover-up by Alameda County prosecutor Tom Orloff, who intends to let ex-BART Officer Johannes Mehserle go free. The movement for justice for Oscar Grant must independently organize and act if we are to win justice.
• Laid out a political analysis, perspective, and plan that can win justice for Oscar Grant and for other victims of police brutality. (Make sure to watch BAMN National Chair Shanta Driver's introductory speech.)
• Family and friends of Oscar Grant shared with movement supporters who Oscar really was, countering the racist demagogy that Mehserle's attorney and police supporters have promoted and will promote before and during the trial.

CHAPTER LIST (time stamps):
0:31 - Introduction
4:35 - Opening Presentation by BAMN National Chair Shanta Driver
22:42 - Traci Cooper - Oscar Grant's aunt
32:38 - Slideshow of Oscar Grant
37:06 - Jack Bryson - Father of Oscar's friend Jackie who was on the BART platform
44:37 - Bobby Cephus Johnson - Oscar Grant's uncle
61:15 - Anatomy of a Coverup - The District Attorney's Brief
74:44 - Analysis of the Video
98:45 - 2nd Video: Mehserle reached for his gun, not his taser
102:37 - Kenneth Carrethers - Previous victim of Johannes Mehserle
108:32 - Stephanie Montoya - Sister of Jerry Amaro, murdered by Oakland Police's present head of internal affairs Edward Poulson
116:16 - Closing Remarks

Go to the VIDEO PAGE

INDEPENDENT PUBLIC TRIBUNAL to Investigate Oscar Grant's Killing

THE NEXT STEP is this Wednesday's INDEPENDENT PUBLIC TRIBUNAL to launch the community investigation into the killing of Oscar Grant. District Attorney Tom Orloff plans to hide the truth in the courtroom and let Johannes Mehserle go free. This is OUR chance to establish the truth.

AMONG THE WITNESSES will be Oscar Grant's friends and family, people who were at the BART platform on New Year's night, and Ken Carrethers, a black man who was severely beaten by Johannes Mehserle.

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

JUSTICE FOR OSCAR GRANT ACTION PAGE

Oscar Grant Birthday March a Big Success!

The march for justice on Oscar Grant's birthday Friday, February 27 was a big success! Beginning with our determined march through downtown Hayward and ending with passionate speeches by activists and Oscar Grant's family in front of Hayward City Hall, we paid honor to Oscar and declared our resolve to fight for justice.

See the news coverage:
KTVU news story: http://www.bamn.com/video/16.asp
InsideBayArea.com article: http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_11804979

BAY AREA BAMN'S NEXT MEETING is this Monday, March 2, 7:00PM at UC-Berkeley's Wheeler Hall Room 200 (near Bancroft + Telegraph in Berkeley).