Starving for Justice - Fast 4 Education article from Fault Lines, June 2004

June 6, 2004

Thirty-seven years ago normal proceedings of the California State Legislature came to a screeching halt as an organized group of poor, concerned and armed people stormed into the state capitol to say to those making and passing policy what they thought to be just and right. They had armed themselves in defense against police brutality and entered the capitol to remind policy makers that “constitutional rights” have been promised to all citizens, not just the wealthy. This event enabled the Black Panther Party (BPP) to bring awareness to the urgent social and economic condition of poor, urban black folk directly to the doorstep of those making the decisions that affect ALL Californians. The BPP claimed a right to self-determination, respect, and what are generally considered American values.

Thirty-seven years later, almost to the date, with the same urgency and passion for justice as the BPP, a multiracial, multigenerational group of concerned people rose up from working-poor urban communities to demand the same attention from the same state legislature. They declared that there are still racist and classist funding structures that prevent poor people from gaining fair and equal access to public education. Ironically, this action was taken on the 50th anniversary of the historic decision of Brown v. the Board of Education declaring segregation and “separate and [supposedly] equal” public policy, unconstitutional. This group who again succeeded in disrupting the normal fast track process of legislation did so NOT with guns but with a sacrifice of 26 days on fast, rolling onto the assembly floor in wheel chairs and with an argument for equal funding and quality public education for ALL children. Again, they did little more than provide a drastic motive in order to remind policy makers of the inalienable rights promised to ALL people by the constitution. This organization again brought awareness of the urgent conditions faced by California children reared in large part by k-12 public school, previously conceived of as the “collateral damage” of hasty budget cuts. Whether they wanted to or not, those policy makers were peacefully forced to listen and were driven to enter the dialogue pertaining to how to remedy the crisis in public education.

The group responsible for starting this campaign is known as March4Education, based in Richmond, California. The organization was created in response to the disproportionate toll taken by the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) as a result of the disorganization (and budget deficit) the district inherited from past administrations, as well as the drastic effect of the Swarzenegger budget cuts on both basic and extracurricular public school programs staple to most every school in this country. Currently at Richmond High School, there are NO counselors, NO school psychologists, NO Librarians, indefinitely closed libraries and next to no Athletic programs or Art programs, let alone extracurricular activities.

In response to this very real crisis, March4Education organized an 8-day march from Richmond to Sacramento, which included community members, parents, teachers and students during spring break vacation. One of their slogans read “No Vacation for Education,” and they persisted with the hopes of meeting with Governor Arnold Swarzenegger, urging him to listen to the children of Richmond and respond to demands of revitalizing and restructuring funding for public education in California. History, however, repeated itself as the marchers would only be greeted by a cold indifference the administration of the “People’s Governor” has used towards the people they represent and by very few assembly members who opened up their conference room to provide temporary relief from miles of marching in the sun. At that moment it became clear that more drastic tactics were needed to be more effective in representing the urgency of this issue.

Discussions and organizational meetings then began to consider the idea of a Fast, implementing the pressure of a hunger strike with demands (the actual demands can be accessed at http://www.fast4education.org), coupled with the spiritual offering and profound statement made by a non-violent symbolic fast. March4Education then began preparation for the fast which made its first controversial decision by choosing Frank Ogawa Plaza (in downtown Oakland) as their starting point in order to increase visibility and Bay Area-wide supporter access to BART and other methods of transportation. At 12am, on may 10th, 2004, Gabriel Hernandez, David Johnson, Thomas Prather, Wendy Gonzalez, Karina Oliva, Fred Jackson, Jessica Vasquez, Cesar Cruz and Israel Haros-Lopez began their fast4education. Though initially greeted by city and police officials who confiscated their tarp and awning and threatened them with arrest, they remained and were accompanied by a group of fifteen supporters their first night before they packed up to sleep in a downtown office. They returned and this process became a daily ritual.

By day 9 of the fast, over a hundred supporters came to the candlelight vigil to support the fasters. Some were invited, many had just heard of the fast on the news or in the papers. Letters had come in from the United Farm Workers of America and other organized labor groups, school boards, community and social justice organizations. On day four, Dolores Huerta came out to show her support for the fast and for public education in California. She recommended that the fast be moved to the steps of the State Capitol. On Sunday may 16th, Mayor of Oakland and former Governor of California Jerry Brown came out and signed a resolution in support of the fast and, inspired by this action, declared May 17th (the actual anniversary of Brown vs. Board) “Equal Education Day” in Oakland.

On day 10, the fasters and their small support team traveled to Sacramento and set up camp on the south side of the Capitol. Again, they were greeted by police and again threatened with arrest. Again, their first vigil drew a small crowd of about fifteen people. They remained and their support team kicked into high gear. With the support of numerous state legislators, they had secured a permit and the buzz grew both within the Capitol and outside in the community. With the support of local community leaders and dedicated Sacramento families, the support team grew and daily attendance to the vigils grew dramatically. Though some fasters had already broke their fast and many more would eventually step out for various reasons, the circle remained strong and various legislators and top-ranking California politicos began to pay daily visits to the south side camp. When Dolores Huerta and key organizers with the Dolores Huerta Foundation arrived for the second time, the legislative support seemed to multiply. With the fasters’ health in jeopardy, she made personal visits to numerous legislators and before long, legislators were lining up to speak in support of the fast at the last SPEAK OUT. A resolution in support of the fast was drafted by various assembly people and Senators and within two days had gathered 41 signatures.

On day 25, fasters were again invited onto the Assembly floor for a second time as the resolution was introduced to the Assembly members in session. The news was circulated that even Republicans were intending to sign-on en masse when a call was received by the Governor himself urging the Republican assembly members to caucus. The resolution did not pass but the governor’s aides were sent down to negotiate with the fasters, their support staff, Dolores Huerta and Loni Hancock (assembly woman from the Contra Costa area). Though the original three demands were not conceded to, significant concessions were made. The Governor had signed an agreement to refinance the loans taken out by the WCCUSD, lowering the interest rate from nearly six percent to less than two percent, saving the district at least 600 thousand dollars annually. The governor had also agreed to pay a visit to the West Contra Costa Unified School District this coming fall. All in all, the fast was the first successful action to force the Governor into negotiations and the first action to give faith to the movement for more equitable public education funding. On day 26, in the presence of a large group of Parents (including their own), Children and Educators from Richmond, California, the last two fasters broke their fast at Downer Elementary school, one of the public schools targeted for closure.


One of the Assembly members who spoke at the last Fast4Education SPEAK OUT remarked, “Never before has the assembly floor been forced to stop business as usual and grant full attention to an issue as it did when those of you Fasting for Education rolled onto the floor, except once when the Black Panther Party stormed in, wielding rifles and shot guns…”. Indeed as one strolled through the halls of the offices of the State Legislature, one could hear most conversations revolving around what the fasters were demanding, legitimate consideration for the public schools serving the youth from working-poor, communities of color.

While the successes of the Fast are undeniable, it remains clear that California public schools are still in crisis. Fast4Education urges everyone to remain involved and committed to taking action to continue the fight for equity in public schools and appropriate education in the classroom. Be on the look out for future Fast4Education.org action alerts and be proactive in suggesting possible future actions. Though this battle directly benefits West Contra Costa Unified, our heart remains committed to ALL children in ALL districts, starting in California.


Though the fast itself is over, the fasters are still struggling not only to recuperate physically but also financially as the fast cost them nearly a month’s wages and the logistical demands of the fast cost the fast4education thousands of dollars in rental car fees, cell phone bills and gas. Please visit the Fast4Education website to see where you can send donations, and where future Fundraisers will be held. La Lucha Sigue…Fast4Education vive.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Fast4Education is a Grassroots, Civil & Human Rights movement committed to ending inequity in public school funding. We believe that every child has the Human Right to an education. Fast4Education will use any peaceful means necessary to make equitable education a reality. It is a disgrace that the 5th richest country (California has the 5th largest economy in the world), ranks worse than 40th in education spending on its children. Now that the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. the Board of Education has passed, the time has come for equal and quality education for all children to become a reality. Fast4Education is only a beginning!