VALENTINE'S DAY RALLY IN OAKLAND!! Militarism and Prisons: Breaking Our He

VALENTINE’S DAY RALLY!! Sponsored by Oakland teachers, Endorsed by Bay Area United Against War and Bay Area Labor for Peace and Justice (official Oakland Education Association sponsorship is expected tomorrow)

MILITARISM AND PRISONS
BREAKING OUR HEARTS, BREAKING OUR BUDGET
Friday, February 14, 2003
Rally: 3-6PM Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th and Broadway
March: 6PM to County and Federal Buildings

Planning Meeting Wednesday, February 5, 5PM Tentatively at Youth Together's office at 1611 Telegraph, Room 203

Contact: Jonah Zern at 510.654.8613 or jzern1@yahoo.com

WE NEED:
1. Your Organization's Endorsement
2. Speakers and Performers
3. OUTREACH HELP!! Please distribute information to members of your organization, listservs, calendars, etc.
4. COOL FLYERS! We need your help copying and distributing the flyers we designed, and your creativity and energy in making your own!!

(the following demands may be altered slightly)

1. NO LAYOFFS! NO CUTS! to Oakland School District Staff or Teacher Salaries. No Cuts in Programs. No Caps on Health Benefits.
2. Increase and Initiate Taxes on Local Industry to Fund Schools and Other Social Services.
3. Maintain Local Control of Our Schools.
4. Increase State and Federal Funding for Education without decreasing funding for other essential social services, decrease funding for military and prisons.
5. Keep All Oakland Libraries Open
6. 5. NO WAR ON IRAQ!

The United States is the wealthiest nation in the world, why can’t it provide all its students and equitable and quality education?

In Fiscal Year 2003 federal spending for military will be double the total of local, state and federal
education spending; Communities of color are more likely to die in war: While Black people represent 10% of the U.S. population, they represent 20% of the U.S. military
Source: Education Spending: Heritage Foundation; Military Spending: War Resisters League
Source: Military Personnel: Center for Defense Information

The total number of inmates in local, state and federal prisons has quadrupled in the past 20 years to more than two million. Communities of color are often targeted: One of every four African-Americans between the ages of 20 and 29 is in jail, prison, or on probation or parole; In California children of color are 6.2 times more likely that white youth to be charged with crimes

Source: Platt: Social Justice Journal, 2002