Republicans' War On Public Education

At 4 pm on June 15, 2016, North Carolina educators, parents, and students complete an 18 mile, two day march to meet with Governor McCrory and demand he do more for students. TYT's Eric Byler spoke to educator and organizer Bryan Proffitt about the history of right wing antipathy toward public education.

After delivering a report card and proposed action plan to Governor McCrory on Friday, over fifty educators and parents will walk 18 miles on their way to demand more for students from Governor McCrory. Many marchers will walk all the way from Neal Middle School in Durham to the Governor's office. Specific demands include expand education funding, improving economic security, guaranteeing clean air, water and health care for students, and ending the criminalization of low-income, minority, and LGBT youth.

Turquoise Parker is an elementary school teacher from Durham who will participate in the march. As she put it, “As a teacher, I do everything possible to support struggling students and help them grow. The Governor keeps talking about a budget ‘surplus’ -- but at 46th in the nation in per-student spending, calling that money a surplus is a slap in the face to our students. Every dollar of it should go into our public schools. Our students deserve more.” McCrory could also expand medicaid with the stroke of a pen at pretty much no cost to our state. That’s something our students need and deserve. Students deserve more from Governor McCrory, so it’s our responsibility as teachers and parents to intervene and help him make better decisions.

What: Two day, 18 mile march to the demand more for students from Gov. McCrory

When: Departing 12pm, Tuesday, June 14th

Where (Two departure points for the march):

Neal Middle School: 201 Baptist Road, Durham NC 27601

media encouraged to attend this launch site

Wakefield High School: 2200 Wakefield Pines Drive, Raleigh NC 27614

Who: Educators, Parents, students, and community leaders

Marchers will depart at noon on June 14th, with participants from Durham leaving from Neal Middle School and participants from Guilford, Wake, Cumberland,Chapel Hill and Winston Salem leaving from Wakefield HS in Raleigh. Marchers will stop off for the night at supportive churches and synagogues, where they will rest and hold community conversations. The march will then resume at 8am on June 15th, with a plan to arrive at the Governor’s office that afternoon. March organizers have worked hard to identify a safe walking route, and have secured food, water, and other logistical support for participants (including support vehicles and nurses available along each route of the march).

The Governor was invited Friday to meet publicly with the group about the need to do more for students, but has yet to confirm his attendance. “If he truly cares about supporting our students, Governor McCrory will meet with us and will move immediately to adopt our proposals. He signed HB 2 just hours after it passed, so we know he’s capable of quick, decisive action for causes he really supports” said Crystal Rogers, a Durham Public Schools parent participating in the march with her daughter.

The march is cosponsored by Organize 2020, CAPE, and the Education Justice Alliance. Additional information can be found at

Photos courtesy of Gary Broderick, Bryan Proffitt, and Kristin Beller