Friday Open Thread | Seattle Teachers Plan Black Lives Matter Demonstration

Posted on October 14, 2016 by SouthernGirl2

black-lives-matter-teachersAbout 1,000 teachers have united for the event, which is supported by the school district and the Seattle Parent Teacher Student Association.

Teachers in the Seattle Public Schools district have planned a Black Lives Matter event next week to coincide with an effort by the school district to close the gap of opportunity between students of different races.

KIRO 7 reports that about 1,000 teachers have ordered Black Lives Matter T-shirts that will be worn Oct. 19 during an event called Black Lives Matter in the Seattle Public Schools, a move that is endorsed by Seattle Education Association, the labor organization that represents more than 5,500 educators.

Teachers at Seattle’s John Muir Elementary School took part in a similar event Sept. 16, wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts and hosting Black Men Uniting to Change the Narrative, during which black men from the community welcomed kids to school. KIRO 7 reports that the event was almost canceled after the school received threats of violence, but the school staff decided to have the event anyway.

Jesse Hagopian, a teacher at Seattle’s Garfield High School, told KIRO 7 that the threat against John Muir was made by a white supremacist and that Seattle teachers responded by taking the event districtwide.

“I’m going to be promoting the concept that black lives matter and that my black students’ lives matter in my classroom, in the school district,” Hagopian said. “But I want my students to grapple with the issues that the Black Lives Matter movement has raised. And I want them to be able to understand the criticisms of the movement. … I want them to be able to come up with their own decision about what this movement really means.”

KIRO 7 asked Hagopian how he would respond to those who say, “All lives matter.”

“If all lives matter, then black lives would matter,” Hagopian said.

The Seattle Public Schools district respects the teachers’ right to express themselves. A district spokesperson told KIRO 7 that the T-shirts are a good visual, and they hope that the message inspires people to do the work of eliminating opportunity gaps, an effort the district itself is focused on. A campaign highlighting the district’s efforts is also planned for next week.

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
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50 Responses to Friday Open Thread | Seattle Teachers Plan Black Lives Matter Demonstration

  4. rikyrah says:
    October 14, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    (((tedfrank)))‏@tedfrank

    If you had “GOP candidate rolls out pimp for gay pedophiles to rebut claim of sexual assault” in the headline pool, 2016 is your lucky year.

    Reply
  8. rikyrah says:
    October 14, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    From Alabama:

    Endorsement: We’re with Hillary Clinton. Frankly, Donald Trump’s dangerous.

    Donald Trump must not be president.

    Alabama has voted for every Republican candidate since Ronald Reagan, a man that captured our imagination with a hopeful view
    of America as a shining city upon a hill.

    Nearly 40 years later, Donald Trump offers a deeply cynical view of an America in ruin, an America that seems to exist only in his own dangerous mind.

    Even before the revelation of video evidence of Trump making lewd, demeaning comments advocating sexual advances on women against their will, we knew that he was unfit to lead this country. We unite with people across this nation —people of all parties, including an increasing number of Republicans — to reject the pessimism of his candidacy.

    Following the national party realignment of the mid-20th century, anger and distrust of the Democratic Party runs as deep in Alabama as anywhere in the country. And while more than 300,000 people supported her in the state primary, distrust of Hillary Clinton runs even deeper for many.

    But 2016 isn’t a normal election cycle, and Donald Trump isn’t a normal presidential candidate. Nor is he a normal Republican. He is a man who is frighteningly unfit to be president. And she is his only roadblock.

    Reply
  17. rikyrah says:
    October 14, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    CheeseheadLucy ‏@cheeseheadlucy 18h18 hours ago

    I do not want you up my skirt
    I do not want you down my shirt
    I do not want you near my rump
    I do not want you Donald Trump! #TrumpDrSeuss

    Reply
  20. rikyrah says:
    October 14, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    I just did my civic duty and Early Voted. From beginning to end, took me 10 minutes.
    Chicago folks, if you are downtown, you can Early Vote at 15 W. Washington. (The old Walgreens). They have plenty of voting machines. Open 7 days a week. From now until October 24th-Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
    Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm. Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm.
    Not registered?
    Doesn’t matter. You can do Grace period registration, where you register and vote at the same time. All you need is two pieces of ID, which can range from a US Passport to mail addressed to you in the last 30 days.
    GOTV!!!

    Beginning October 24th, that is when the city will have 51 sites. One in each Ward, and downtown.

    If you have any questions about voting, for Chicago or Suburban Cook County, the offices are now open 7 days a week. Just call if you need information about voting.

    Reply
  24. rikyrah says:
    October 14, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    Taniel ‏@Taniel 5h5 hours ago

    Oh my: Early voting turnout is up 59% in Northern Virginia, & just 5% in the rest of the state. http://www.vpap.org/visualizat… … h/t @LPDonovan

    Reply
  36. SouthernGirl2 says:
    October 14, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    Guess who I bought these for? :)

    parkers-boots

    Reply
  37. SouthernGirl2 says:
    October 14, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    Too much cuteness. I love this baby!

    Reply
    • yahtzeebutterfly says:
      October 14, 2016 at 1:20 pm

      So upsetting!

      Reply
    • Ametia says:
      October 14, 2016 at 7:13 pm

      So transparent. Black folks aren’t supposed to earn money and bank it.

      Actually these mofos believe we shouldn’t have a pot to piss in, not complain about not having a pot to piss in and let them complain about us complaining about not having the pot to piss in

      GOT IT.

      Reply
  41. rikyrah says:
    October 14, 2016 at 5:29 am

    Good Morning 😀, Everyone 😉

    Reply

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