Chicago middle school students, parents hold sit-in demonstration to protest school closing

BREAKING NEWS: Williams Elementary, Chicago -- Middle School students, parents hold sit-in demonstration to protest school closing

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Twitter hashtag: #WilliamsProtest

Press contact: Jitu Brown, Greg Goodman

At Williams Elementary, Middle School students, parents hold sit-in demonstration to protest school closing

Schedule: Friday, May 3 at Williams Elementary and Williams Middle School at 2710 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL.

10 am: 65 students and 5 parents assemble inside the hallway of Williams Elementary School and Williams Middle School at 2710 S Dearborn to protest the Chicago Public Schools proposal to close Williams Elem and Williams Middle School with students to be transferred to Drake Elementary and then Drake to relocate to the current Williams Elem & Williams Middle School building.

Douglas neighborhood schools Williams Elem and Williams Middle School student populations are 98% African-American, 95.1% low-income and 14.3% Special Education.

In 2012, Williams Elem and Williams Middle School experienced a major CPS school action when Urban Prep - Bronzeville co-located their building. After the co-location, Williams Elem and Middle School dropped from a Level 2 to a Level 3 school.

After an emotional series of community hearings, where participants felt that their concerns were ignored by CPS, parents and students are making their voices heard to Shawn Smith, CPS network chief who will be attending a meeting at Williams Elem and Middle School.