Rally Against School Closures Held By DOE Headquarters
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Parents, students and teachers rallied in Downtown Manhattan on Friday to save public schools from what they called "destructive education policies."
They picketed, signed petitions and distributed flyers about the city's plan to close 26 schools because of poor performance.
Public hearings will be held on each school closure next month before an education panel vote is held.
The so-called "Fight Back Friday" events culminated with a news conference outside Department of Education headquarters in the Boss Tweed Courthouse.
"For the Department of Education, for Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg, for [Schools Chancellor] Cathie Black to say after eight years of mayoral control that these schools are failing and that our only choice is to turn schools over to private hands is an outrage," said teacher Julie Cavanagh. "They have been in charge of our schools for the last eight years. This is their failure."
Organizers say they have invited Black to participate in a citywide rally on Thursday.
Department of Education officials refused to comment on the request Friday.