A combination hunger strike and protest campout has been occurring in downtown Los Angeles for the last nine days. The action is a continuance of the demonstrations that rose up in response to draconian budget cuts and layoffs issued by the Los Angeles Board of Education last month. The cuts are a result of a state and city wide deficit avalanche that is threatening to wipe away the traditional Californian "safety net " ; which for generations has been there for the poorest and least able amongst us.
The hunger strikers are protesting against the effect that these cuts will have on their pupils and consequently on the communities that these kids live in. Considerations such as class size and scholarly attention are chief amongst the teachers concerns.
The Los Angeles Board of Education voted to lay off as many as 5,400 teachers and staff due to a 596 million dollar budget shortfall for 2010.
For the last nine days the protest has been set up outside of the Liechty Middle School near downtown L.A. where forty-seven of the 65 teachers working there have received layoff notices.
Meanwhile the new state cuts are looming.
The campout/ fast will be moving this evening to The Miguel Contreras Learning Center where the hunger strikers will enter their tenth day without food, sleeping on the street in tents and yet still teaching a full schedule during the day until the school years end.
The Miguel Contreras Learning Center address is 322 S. Lucas Ave Los Angeles, CA 90017
Web info on the hunger strikers, their supporters and citizen action opportunities.
http://www.netvibes.com/lahungry4ed#General 