Day 10 of the Fast - Press release from Fast 4 Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 19, 2004
Contact: Gabriel Hernandez 408-835-6633
Voicemail: 510-645-9213
Email: fast4education [at] yahoo.com
Website: http://www.march4education.org

DAY 10 OF THE FAST!
Group announces their departure to State Capitol

12:00 NOON Wednesday, May 19th
Frank Ogawa Plaza
14th and Broadway, Downtown Oakland

With much needed support from the City of Oakland, Fast4Education will attempt to move to Sacramento, California, at noon today to raise awareness about the state of California’s public educational system and to challenge Governor Schwarzenegger to implement the group’s three demands. Supporting this act of non-violence, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown declared Monday, May 17, “Equal Education Day.” Mayor Brown also promised that he would provide transportation for the group from City Hall to the Capitol and cover monetary expenses including reimbursing the cost of the portable bathroom and returning the canopies taken by Oakland’s Chief of Police Ward. The group will convene at the steps of Oakland City Hall where they will accept the Mayor’s help to travel to Sacramento using City transportation. The group intends to arrive at the State Capitol building at approximately 5:00PM where they will set up the fast at the steps of the Capitol.

FAST4EDUCATION DEMANDS:
1. Fully Fund Proposition 98.
2. Introduce and pass legislation establishing a formula for equitable educational funding.
3. Forgive the loans to the West Contra Costa County School District to set a precedent for other districts taken over by the state.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

STATE CAPITOL SITE
7:00PM Daily: Candle light vigil
May 19: Teach-in on Brown v. the Board of Education
May 27: Statewide mobilization of children of elementary, middle and high schools, higher education students to address Governor Schwarzenegger at the Westside of State Capital Building, Sacramento, CA (Day 18 of the fast).