March 2 Demonstration
• Teachers Demand Funding for Education and Say Hands Off Pensions!
March 2 Demonstration
Teachers Demand Funding for Education
and Say
Hands Off Pensions!
More than 700 teachers from Buffalo and surrounding counties, including Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming, organized a spirited demonstration opposing attacks on their pension and demanding that education be fully funded. Chanting Fund Ed Now! and holding signs defending rights, like Kids Not Cuts,Class Size Matters and Hands Off Pensions the teachers rallied in Niagara Square. Many different school districts were represented, including Amherst, Grand Island, Iroquois, Lockport, Newfane, Niagara Falls and more. Organized by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), Buffalo Teachers Federation and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), the lively crowd ignored the rain and repeatedly chanted their demands. They made clear that teachers are fighting for students by fighting for the conditions necessary to teach, which are also conditions necessary for students to learn. The overall spirit was one of rejecting the demands of government for more layoffs and cuts and defending the rights of teachers and students. The stand of All for One and One for All was also reflected in support from workers and their unions from various public and healthcare workers, electricians, painters, and more who were present. A postal worker driving by in his postal truck honked repeatedly to loud cheers, as did a firefighter in his fire truck. Workers together are recognizing that the fight for rights is one fight, to be waged together and that it is a political fight. The action brought up the need to hold all candidates accountable for defending rights and representing the demands of the workers — which also raises the need for the workers themselves to become candidates and organize united opposition to the current direction of government at all levels.
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