After a 9 hour drive through the night from El Paso to Austin, my new friend and carpool buddy Avina Gutierrez (from a long line of Chicano Activists, daughter of cofounders of Raza Unida Party in Crystal City and fierce student activist at UTEP) arrived just in time for the Rally at the State Capitol to Save Texas Schools.
As we approached the capitol lawn and building, Kids of all ages, Elders, Teachers, students, families, short, tall, bodies filled the lawn bearing signs of protest such as "Save Our Schools" and "Ignorance costs more than Education".
An estimated 11,000 people came through the Capitol to protest over 10 Million in proposed Budget cuts to Texas Education System. The Proposed cuts would cost teacher jobs,decreases in employee pay (starting at the bottom), school closures and launch Texas schools into a deeper crisis for resources.
The energy was alive and unified in Austin. People from all over Texas were standing together in Declaration. I was happy to be present at the event and in protest of gov. big Dick Perry.
EDUCATION NOT INCARCERATION!!