From September 28 to October 7, the Youth Organizing Institute, NC HEAT and the Education Justice Alliance held a Week of Action against school pushout, participating in NC Pride, holding a Press Conference outside of the Wake County School Board office, holding a march in downtown Raleigh against the school-to-prison pipeline, and phone banking to remind people to vote in the school board election. Here’s a recap of each event:
Saturday, September 28: NC Pride
Alongside iNSIDEoUT and around 50 other teens, NC HEAT marched in the NC Pride parade in Durham to raise awareness for the criminalization of queer youth and youth of color. It was a fun celebration and a festive way to kick off the week!
Tuesday, October 1: Press Conference to Launch Campaign for a Pause in Suspensions
News 14 Carolina – “Wake Co. group wants school district to ease suspension policy”
YOI, NC HEAT and the Education Justice Alliance came together to hold a press conference in front of the Wake County Public School System central office in Cary to announce our shared campaign calling for a pause on suspensions in Wake County. We spoke in front of the WCPSS building as well as during public comment after the school board meeting. Click here for a video of NC HEAT members speaking during public comment (0:21:00).
Friday, October 4: 2nd Annual March to End the School-to-Prison Pipeline
News & Observer – “Raleigh groups march to reduce youth imprisonment”
NC HEAT, YOI, EJA and other allies including [??], Internationalist Prison Books Collective and UNControllables marched together to speak out against school push out–policies that lead to students of color, queer youth, students with disabilities and low-income students being suspended, expelled or dropping out at a higher rate than their peers. The march began with a speak-out at Washington GT Elementary in Raleigh and processed to NC Central Prison, choosing the route to represent the school-to-prison pipeline. Along the way, marchers stopped outside of Shaw University at the memorial plaque for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to honor radical history and to remember those we love who fight for justice every day. We then held a noise demonstration outside of Central Prison with drums and our voices, letting prisoners know that they are not forgotten and not alone.
THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the week’s events! We wrapped up on Monday by making phone calls to remind voters about the school board candidates. Here is an N&O article about the school board election results.
Stay tuned as we announce our upcoming plans for the end of the year!