Students Rally against Budget Cuts

STUDENTS OF COLOR TALK BACK:
THOUSANDS RALLY AGAINST BUDGET CUTS IN SACRAMENTO
CAMPAIGN FOR QUALITY EDUCATION GATHERS TO SUPPORT
“100 PERCENT PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER” CAMPAIGN AND ASSEMBLY BILL 8
SACRAMENTO, CA. In the midst of massive cuts to the state education budget, more than a
thousand students and allies from across California converged on Sacramento to give a long overdue
voice from students of color on education and to tell the Governor and Legislature, “Don’t Pink Slip
Our Education!” In addition to a morning rally and march around the capitol, the student leaders
delivered over 5,000 signed postcards of support to the Governor, testified before the Assembly
Education Committee, and met with more than forty legislators to build support for Assembly Bill 8
and Assembly Concurrent Resolution 54.
The mobilization was organized by the Campaign for Quality Education – an alliance of over 25
organizations that work for educational justice and equity in low-income, immigrant, communities of
color – as part of their “100 Percent Prepared for College and Career” Campaign, an effort to ensure
that all California students have the educational resources to go on to college or a well-paying career
upon graduating from high school.
“I came here today to give a students a voice about their education,” said Scottie Gonzalez, a
sophomore at Overfelt High School in San Jose, who emceed the rally. “I came to say I care about my
education and that I deserve a school that will get me ready for the future.” Gonzalez called the current
budget crisis a “budget opportunity,” a chance to re-prioritize education and to fund schools more
equitably so that all California students had access to college prep courses, counselors, and qualified
teachers. “Right now,” he said, “If you go to certain schools, you go to college. If you don’t go those

Assembly hearings were held.