On August 3, CPD’s education justice campaign organized a national day of resistance with coordinated actions across 38 cities to demand a safe and equitable reopening of schools. 

School districts across the country are opening schools either in person or virtually and our affiliates and partners across the country have already begun to make sure that the health and safety of our communities is given the priority it deserves.

Several CPD affiliates led protests outside of schools including: Step Up Louisiana, Make the Road New Jersey, Latinos Unidos Siempre, Florida Student Power Network, and Arkansas Community Organizations. 

In Baltimore, Communities United joined their local teacher’s union as they rallied outside of Comcast. They demanded the company provide free services to students and educators. In Chicago, KOCO lifted up their quality of life demands outside of city hall demanding the safe reopening of schools, access to housing and healthcare. In Dallas, parents with Texas Organizing Project hosted a virtual town hall. In Los Angeles, parents with ACCE joined teachers and students outside at the LA Chamber of Commerce & the LA Unified school district for a protest demanding a safe reopening of schools. In Milwaukee, the students of Leaders Igniting Transformation supported teachers as they held a car caravan and die-in in front of the Department of Health Services. In Philadelphia 215PA joined  a coalition of students, parents and teachers in a protest in front of their school district to demand asbestos and lead-free schools. In Vermont, Rights and Democracy joined their local teacher union at the state capitol to demand a delay to the start of school, cancellation of rent and mortgage payments, the tools needed for remote learning and more. And in West Virginia, Our Future West Virginia held several actions including a town hall with parents advocating for a safe reopening. 

These actions were sparked by a growing momentum to support students, families, and educator's ability to lay out our own reimagined vision of public school safety. Stay tuned for our next steps as an education justice movement.