The New Student Movement

Chanting "Education is a Right" and "Student Power", hundreds of students in Oakland, California walked out of their schools on May 17th, 2005, and marched on Oakland City Hall to demand changes in the public education system. Pulled together by Organize Da B.A.Y. (Bay Area Youth), a coalition of high school and middle school students, the protest was timed to coincide with the historic Brown vs. Board of Education verdict of May 17th, 1954, which abolished racial segregation in public schools. Raza, Asian, African American, and Anglo youth hit the streets together to protest inadequate education funding and the No Child Left Behind Act. The Oakland City Council passed a resolution in support of the student action, proclaiming May 17th as Take Back Our Schools Day. The official website for Organize Da B.A.Y. explains the struggle in the student’s voice: "The United States educational system is in an enormous crisis as our government continues to make educational budget cuts. The United States has money for war and prisons but not for our schools. It is a shame that this country is the wealthiest nation in the world, yet it cannot provide all of our students with a quality education. Furthermore, it is a disgrace that California is now rated as 48th of the 50 states in the amount spent per pupil on education. Our right to an education is under attack!" If you still think today’s youth are apathetic, you need to visit: www.organizedabay.org