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From: Caputoprl@aol.com
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 16:35:25 EST
To: TeachingtoChangeLA.org
Subject: CEJ URGENT: Rally Postponed Til 2/25, Romer's Moves, Anti-War Demo

CEJ Members and Supporters,

1. Our rally of Tuesday, February 11 has been postponed - to Tuesday,
February 25, 4:00, 333 S. Beaudry, LAUSD School Board. PLEASE SAVE THAT
DATE. The postponement is not a sign of CEJ's weakness - but, rather, of
our strength. NOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE FEBRUARY 25TH AS BIG AS POSSIBLE. Read on
for more details.

2. As we organize towards our militant February 25 CEJ rally at the School
Board, join other CEJ members in marching in the anti-war demonstration on
Saturday, February 15 - it will help us build towards the 25th. On the
15th, we'll meet at the Northeast corner of Argyle and Hollywood, across from the
Red Line, at 12:45pm. Bring your blue CEJ T-shirt, or some money to buy one
($10 or what you can afford). On this day, CEJ members will join people in
over 300 cities across the world, marching against the US war on Iraq. It
will strengthen CEJ's ongoing anti-war work - as we produce CEJ student
anti-war flyers for distribution; support CEJ-related student anti-war
organizing at Washington HS, Crenshaw HS, etc; and build teacher opposition
to the war at school sites as well, through teacher union chapters,
independent organizing, etc. At the anti-war march of January 11, CEJ had a
vibrant delegation of 40 parents, students, and teachers - marching,
chanting, and organizing together. Let's do it again.

Now, let's talk about this postponement from February 11 to February 25 for
a second. As much as it is up to grassroots, multiracial organizations to
stand up to US imperialism and world domination abroad, it is up to these
same organizations, like CEJ, to stand up to racism within the US. In this
spirit, throughout the process of trying force change from a grassroots
level onto an $8 billion agency like the LAUSD, we've got to deal with the
political maneuverings, tactics, and zigs and zags of the politicians within
that agency.

On Tuesday, February 4, CEJ and allies from the Task Force on Alternative
Assessments presented our report, that came out of the Task Force, to the
School Board's Curriculum and Instruction Committee. The thoroughness of
our report, and the force of its main recommendations (for a moratorium on the
racially- and class-discriminatory High School Exit Exam and for the
creation of an Educational Justice Index on school conditions) impressed several
Board Members - and it drew great concern from Superintendent Romer, who has been
one of our main adversaries. Romer then moved quickly to assure that our
report would not be heard by the full Board on the 11th - buying himself
some time to try to consolidate Board Members against us.

It is the staying power and growth of our grassroots base; the legitimacy
that we have in schools, communities, and at the Board; and the strength of
our report and its demands that forced Romer to postpone until the 25th. To
capitalize on this show of strength by CEJ, we have to make our rally on
February 25th as large as possible. We want well over 300 students,
parents, and teachers there for a creative, vibrant, loud rally - in support of our
educational justice demands and anti-war themes - as the Board hears our
report and considers our recommendations. Between now and February 25th,
CEJ's Steering Committee and Campaign Committee will be in touch with Board
Members and Romer, continuing to move our agenda.

Get involved now! Bring people to the 25th from your school, your
community, your group of progressive friends! School Board movement on either of these
items - the High School Exit Exam or the Educational Justice Index - would
set a precedent state-wide and nationally. Now's our chance to make
history.

Be part of it. For more information, please call 310-452-3310. Flyers will be on the way
for you to distribute. See you on the 15th and the 25th!

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