Statement by L.A. Teachers Union Official in Support of Student Protesters

Revolution #025, December 4, 2005, posted at revcom.us

The following is from a statement made by Andy Griggs, a teacher and member of the executive board of the United Teachers of Los Angeles at a Nov. 15 press conference in front of the LA Unified School District. Griggs had also issued a "message to educators" before Nov. 2 in support of the right of students, teachers, and others in the school community to take part in The World Can't Wait protests on that day.

First of all I want to say how proud I am of the students. Sara [Escudero, Reseda High School student and World Can't Wait organizer], you are doing great work, keep it up. All the others who made the choice to take the risk and stand up in the face of what’s going on in this country--we have to encourage the students. We teach them everyday. We teach them to think critically. That’s the goal and the idea behind the LAUSD and hopefully every other teaching institution. If we are then going to turn around and punish them for that, then I think that’s a shame...

We also think that the students have a right to express themselves--and without that, what would happen? Look at the Chicano Moratorium. Without that we wouldn’t be where we are today. I want to encourage the students to continue with their work and take the next big step...when there is going to be a "Students and Educators to Stop the War" conference at Manual Arts High School. Then we need to take the next big step which is to drive out Bush.

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