What: Rally to Launch the Recall of OUSD Board President Jody London
When: Wednesday, November 20, 3 p.m.
Where: Outside of Met West High School, 314 East 10th Street, Oakland
Oakland Not for Sale—community members and educators against public school closures—will hold a rally to kick off a campaign to recall Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Board President Jody London on Wednesday, November 20 at 3 p.m. in front of Met West High School. London is a leading advocate for the district’s plan to close 24 schools, primarily in communities of color. Activists will gather signatures needed to issue a notice of intent before collecting more signatures needed for a recall election in District 1, represented by London.
Oakland families and educators have had enough of public school closures and the proliferation of charters over the past fifteen years. Of all California districts, Oakland has the highest percentage of students attending charter schools, which drained $57 million from the city’s public schools in a single year, according to a study released in 2018. London and other board members have claimed they must close public schools to remedy to the fiscal crisis they created, despite evidence that school closures harm students and do not save money.
Director London has defended the violent attack by OUSD police on parents and teachers as they peacefully protested school closures at the board meeting on October 23. She supports maintaining the presence of police at schools, despite the harm done to Black and Brown students. And London opposes the Black Organizing Project’s proposal to eliminate the OUSD police department and to use the savings to hire more counselors and restorative justice support staff.
Teachers will walk out of various OUSD schools in support of tomorrow’s action and to protest the district’s plan to continue closing schools.
The rally will feature street theater and speakers from Oakland Not for Sale and parents, teachers, and students from several schools in the district.
Contact:
Steve Neat
steveneat78@gmail.com
(510) 290-2218
Saru Jayaraman
saru@onefairwage.org
(917) 226-3713