Hunger Strikers Fight for Chicago’s Dyett High School
Jeannette Taylor and Anna Jones of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett High School in Chicago are in the fourth day of their hunger strike demanding re-opening of a neighborhood high school in their community. They joined the Education Town Hall from outside the school on August 20.
“Racism is alive and well in this country,” say protestors, accusing both Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and their local alderman, Will Burns, of caring more about families from wealthier neighborhoods and willfully closing schools in brown and black communities.
The office of Alderman Will Burns told the Education Town Hall he was “unavailable for comment.” This was no surprise to protestors who say he “does not make working class or poor families his priority.”
Aisha Wade-Bay, another coalition leader, spoke to the Education Town Hall on August 13 about their struggle and their plans for a Global Leadership and Green Technology High School at Dyett.
Hunger strikers say this action is a last ditch effort and that no one has listened to their demands for five years. They ask those outside Chicago to help amplify this message calling Mayor Emanuel to say “we support those who #FightforDyett.”
Chicago Organizers Lead Hunger Strike for Dyett High School
Tweet your support to #SaveDyett, #WeAreDyett & #FightForDyett
Tweet your support to #SaveDyett, #WeAreDyett & #FightForDyett
Go to Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools Website