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Whittier Parents Force Meeting with Huberman - Labor Beat on Bliptv

Bliptv link given below
Evlin with letter_s.jpg
Evelin Santos shows a large replica of the letter delivered to Huberman
Tent_s.jpg
One of Whittier parents' tents out in front of Chicago Public Schools HQ
Photos: David Vance / Labor Beat
Whittier Parents Force Meeting with Huberman

To view on YouTube, click here:
blip.tv/file/4586380

The struggle for "La Casita" in Chicago is not over. After weeks of Whittier parents occupying their school's field house that was threatened with demolition, Chicago Public Schools outgoing CEO Ron Huberman told their Alderman that all he required from them was a letter specifying what they needed, and he would sign it. On October 13, the Whittier parents had that letter delivered to Huberman.

Their goal was to have the field house (La Casita) kept part of Whittier school and refurbished into a needed library. Berta Chacon, one of the parents, tells protesters: “He received it [the letter] and we're waiting for an answer. Since last night, we are holding a vigil, because it is not possible that they play us with just lies. We have been waiting 34 days and he says that this is new. This has been actually going on for 7 years… We have been there [the occupied school house] 34 days and nights…We don't want any more lies and here we will stay until they sign the letter." Carolina Gaete of Blocks Together, says “We are asking Mayor Daley to do his job…and to demand that Huberman fulfills his job to sign what was promised by our elected officials October 13."

Gaete draws the lessons in the broader context: "Local schools don't get the resources that are needed, therefore don't meet standards and are scrutinized through the process of either being turned around, closed, or charterized. ..You are not giving our schools equal access and equal resources, yet you are measuring the standards all the same but everybody's not at the same playing field." At the time of this video (Jan. 2, 2011) the letter has still not been signed. Scenes and interviews from demonstrations in front of Chicago Public Schools, City Hall, Mayor Daley's office, and “La Casita”. Produced for Labor Beat by David Vance. Length - 25:34.

Produced by Labor Beat. Labor Beat is a CAN TV Community Partner. Labor Beat is a non-profit 501(c)(3) member of IBEW 1220. Views are those of the producer Labor Beat. For info: mail (at) laborbeat.org, www.laborbeat.org. 312-226-3330. For other Labor Beat videos, visit Google Video, YouTube, or blip.tv and search "Labor Beat". Labor Beat has regular cable slots in Chicago, Evanston, Rockford, Urbana, IL; St. Louis, MO; Princeton, NJ; and Rochester, NY. For more detailed information, send us a request at mail (at) laborbeat.org

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