EPCC SUPPORTS UTLA PROTEST JAN. 29 IN LA

EPCC NEWS

January 29,2009

EPCC SUPPORTS UTLA JANUARY 29 MASS ACTION AGAINST LAUSD AND STATE BUDGET CUTS

Los Angeles-- "No to Budget Cuts! Cuts Hurts Kids!"

Downtown Los Angeles became a sea of red and multi-colored banners,t-shirts and caps in the afternoon of January 29..

Led by the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA),more than 5,0000 militant teachers and their allies in red t-shirts marched thorugh downtown LA and filled the Pershing Square to protest budget cuts by the California state Governor and the legislature as well as the excessive and lavish spending spree of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)at the expense of teachers as well as the public.

More than 3,000 teachers marched from the LAUSD main office in Beaudry/3rd St. while at least 2,000 converged at Pershing Square in downtown LA, chanting: " Money for jobs and education, Not for War and Occupation".

From Pershing Square they marched again during the evening to the Ronald Reagan Federal Building on 3rd/Spring. LA teachers protested state budget cuts that will lay-off teachers, increased and bigger classes,cuts in school staff, cut food for students and other educational amenities. All of these at the expense of students and families.

Protest Budget Cuts

At the same time LAUSD went on a spending spree on not needed structures, unwanted and cannot be used technology and fouled up even the teachers salaries.

The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) support the just struggle of the teachers in LA. EPCC based in the community understand the teachers plight and vowed that they should not be made as sacrificial lambs for the mistakes of the failed state machinery and the bureaucracy of the LAUSD.

The EPCC supported the January 29 Los Angeles march action. Some of the EPCC activists marched with different contingents of the UTLA.

For more information contact Jerry Esguerra at (818)749 0272 or email at epcc_la@hotmail.com

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