Struggle Marches Through Harlem to CCNY

As part of a national day to defend education, New Yorkers marched half way across Harlem from the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building to City College. Hospital workers, teachers, high school students, and allies protested in solidarity with student strikes in California and similar actions across the country as a continuation of the March 4th Movement. In New York, activists protested the consistent cuts to New York public schools and rise in tuition -according to an email blast, "Over the past six years, tuition fees have increased 46% at SUNY and 44% at CUNY,"- charter schools -"In the name of excellence they are creating islands of exclusivity," said second grade teacher, Brian Jones,- cuts to hospitals and they protested gentrification.



The March 4th Coalition of New York City demands:
*No budget cuts, school closures, tuition hikes, layoffs, privatization, or union-busting.
*A restoration of all education funding.
*An elimination of systems of racism in the publics school system.
*Real education, not testing
*Smaller class sizes.
*Cancel all student debt.
*Equal pay for equal work and job security for all faculty and teachers
*Free and equal access to quality education from kindergarten to university for all
*No MTA fare hike
*Money for education - not war and incareration

The coalition invite all to join the ongoing struggle and organizing. Find out more at DefendEducationNYC.wordpress.com or contact March4NY@gmail.com.

LGBTQA Vigil

LGBTQA Alliance of City College, the Office of Student Life and other allies held a vigil in response to the recent suicide of Rutgers University student, Tyler Clementi as well as, Asher Brown (age 13), Seth Walsh (age 13), Billy Lucas (age 15), and Raymond Chase (age 19). It may seem curious as to why so many LGBTQ related suicides occurred recently, but according to Hector Martinez, "LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to commit suicide than their strait peers" and that "twenty to forty percent of the homeless population in New York City is identified as LGBTQ." The story that brought these other other similar tragedies into such a light was unique in itself. The story is that Tyler Clementi's roommate secretly filmed him on a webcam being sexually active with another man, leading to the event in which Tyler jumped off the George Washington Bridge.



Vigils in solidarity with the LGBTQ community and youth, occurred all across the country. At CCNY, it was emphasized by the representatives of Student Life, Student Government, The Wellness Center, the affirmative action office, the office of the campus minister, and the study abroad office that these are all places where students can to talk about various such issues. The staff member of the study abroad office, who did not appear to be too much older than the average student, shared that he would be a good person to talk to, that he came out while in college, and that it was not easy. It was noted that there is a Coming Out Group for LGBQ People forming, Tuesdays from six to seven-thirty PM at the Psychology Center in the NAC 8-101.

There were two perspectives given to look at the oppression of LGBTQ peoples and solutions to it, at the vigil. One was that the problem is systemic, that homophobia is encouraged by the larger context of our society. The recent legislative actions taken that don't allow gays to marry, to be openly gay in the military and other forms of discrimination feed homophobia into domestic settings. A political movement to change these things would then be an answer. The other perspective was that we can reverse the tide by simple acts of kindness, by making sure people know that we care about them. Actions of neither sort may include going to a vigil, or by going to a meeting of the LGBTQA Alliance.

Vigil & Strike

Candle Light Vigil to Remember the Victims of GLBT Bullying & Harassment
Wednesday, October 6 · 12:00pm - 1:00pm
NAC Plaza
LGBTQA Alliance of City College

"Join the CCNY community as we remember the lives of the young men who committed suicide due to homophobic bullying and harassment in recent days. This event will reaffirm our commitment as a college and community to creating and nurturing an open and accepting campus where everyone is cared for and everyone is safe." - from Fb page


Strike! to Defend Education
Thursday
As a continuation of March 4 to Defend Education, the struggle continues. As part of Strike! October 7th, CUNY students and others will rally at the Harlem State Office Building, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. & 125th Street. Actual strikes will occur in California and similar rallies all over the country for public education at all levels and types.