The action, which was sponsored by the United Federation of Teachers, hip-hop music promoter Russell Simmons, and the Alliance for Quality Education, was the largest protest action yet in the teachers’ year-and-a-half-long fight for a new contract. Public school teachers in the city have been working without an agreement since November 2000.

"We deserve a decent contract and shouldn’t have to wait," said Bridget Laird, a teacher at P.S. 59 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. She expressed the sentiment of thousands of teachers from all five boroughs who packed the downtown streets for the action.

Many sported handmade signs with slogans such as, "We’re not baby-sitters. We’re educators;" "No cash = No books, no supplies, no learning;" and "Teachers have families that need to eat. No cuts." Some wore buttons that read, "I don’t want to strike, don’t force me."

Among the most enthusiastic participants were the many high school students who accompanied their teachers to the rally. Dozens came from Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn, among others.

"I spend $1,200 per year for school supplies out of my own pocket," stated Idi Hendrikse, who teaches at P373K in Brooklyn. "We are only giving and not getting anything back."

Vernadette Hill, who teaches fifth and sixth graders at P.S. 50 in south Jamaica, Queens, commented, "They want us to teach children with less than we already have. We already have more children than books for them."

Mario Asaro, a teacher at Junior High School 157 in Rego Park, Queens, pointed to the importance of having a coalition of groups forming around the issue of defending public education. "It’s not just teachers’ responsibility," he said. "It affects everyone." He had been to several teacher-organized protests over the past year, but thought this was "one of the better demonstrations."

"The issue here is not just about money, it’s about respect," stated Elaine Asaro, who also teaches at the Rego Park school. "Teachers in the city are not treated with respect."

The action had been publicized on several local hip-hop radio stations. Thousands of teenagers, most of them Black, joined teachers with union hats and T-shirts at City Hall Park, many arriving early for the action. No sooner had the rally started than the cops broke up the mobilization, using the excuse of the allegedly rowdy behavior of some of the Black youth in attendance.

"It was tragic to shut down our rally," stated Mark Nichik, who teaches at P.S. 721. "New York has the highest cost of living and its teachers are among the lowest paid in the country."

The United Federation of Teachers had a permit for recorded sound and music only, so the cops tried to shut down live music performances by some of the hip-hop artists in attendance. Internationally acclaimed singer Wyclef Jean was arrested for attempting to perform on stage.

"The right to demonstrate is a basic right. What happened today is inexcusable," said Flora Juang, a teacher at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan.  
 
 
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