Lewandowski protest at U of C; ASPIRA; Special Ed class cuts (3 part show) - next Labor Beat, starts on CAN TV 19, 3/16


Three-segment show


Chicago - CAN TV Channel 19
Thursday, March 16, 9:30 pm
Friday, March 17, 4:30 pm
Thursday, March 23, 9:30 pm
Friday, March 24, 4:30 pm


Protesting Lewandowski at University of Chicago

On February 15, 2017 a large protest took place in front of the University of Chicago’s Quadrangle Club while a meeting inside, sponsored by the University’s Institute of Politics, hosted a talk by crypto-fascist and Trump’s campaign advisor Cory Lewandowski. Activists opposed this influential instutution's presenting fear, intolerance and racism as belonging within the framework of legitimate political discourse. But protesters and the press were banned from the meeting inside.

Charlotte Heltai (U of C Resist) sharply upbraided the University. “This is the same university that is willing to pay lip service to protecting undocumented people without committing resources to that cause. [They] tell us that they are interested in protecting our neighbors, our colleagues, the staff of this university and families only if they will add to the prestige of this institution… [But] we are interested in protecting them because they are people."

The protesters tried to get into the closed meeting, but were barred by campus police. However, the video includes an interview with an activist who was able to get into the meeting and unfurl a large banner before she was escorted out. Also can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/Suy495uLcmI

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Cops stop protesters from attending Lewandowski speech at U of Chicago. Photo: David Vance / Labor Beat


Second segment

ASPIRA Charter Teachers Approve A Strike

February 22, 2017 – At the end of a spirited rally at an ASPIRA charter school campus on Chicago’s Pulaski Avenue, ballots were counted and it was announced that 99% of the teachers approved a strike — 92 for, 1 against. Includes interviews with Chris Bahrend (President of ChiACTS AFT Local 4343, Chicago's charter school union) and Marines Martinez (acting President of ACE, the charter network’s council in ChiACTS Local 4343). ChiACTS later set March 17 as a strike date, but on March 10 the union announced a tentative agreement, to be approved by the membership. Can also be viewed at: https://youtu.be/bYSAKiRG6vA

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Third segment

Bring Ms. Chambers Back to 8th Grade!

The 8th grade students at Saucedo Academy (Chicago) organized a protest at the school on Feb. 10, 2017 because they heard that all the special education schedules were being changed and that Ms. Chambers, their teacher, probably wouldn't be in their 8th grade classes anymore. Chicago Public Schools has attacked special education this year with over $85 Million in cuts and a new, draconian procedure manual. This has meant a drastic reduction in special education services, such as busing and in special ed classroom assistants, and fewer students being evaluated to receive special education services. Can also be viewed at: https://youtu.be/u7jOA8AXwcc

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