The Baltimore Algebra Project (BAP) is at it again. The group of students and teachers who are seeking justice for the Baltimore City School System held another rally and march at 4:30 p.m. on May 17, 2005. A diverse group of approximately 150 participants gathered at the waterfall at the intersection of Pratt and Light Streets. The crowd listened to a number of students rap and give spoken word performances while other students circulated among the crowd asking people to “sign-in” and handed out informational fliers. The students had created a “wanted for failure to pay child support” signs with the images of Governor Robert Ehrlich, State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, and Mayor Martin O’Malley. The rally wrapped up with two teachers who spoke in support of the students and their cause.

The participants then gathered into a procession and --surrounded by a phalanx of police-- marched to the Maryland State Board of Education Office on Baltimore Street. Marchers chanted slogans such as “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!" Many folks carried signs, a few carried banners. One banner that was particularly striking was a check for 800 million dollars that was made out to the Baltimore City School System.At issue has been the refusal of the Governor and Mayor to provide the school system with adequate funding despite two court orders and the recommendation of a state commission on education.

The march stopped across the street from Nancy Grasmick’s office, the State Board of Education on Baltimore Street. The organizers made several announcements that if protestors crossed the street they risked the possibility of arrest. They then launched into a street theatre performance which concluded with finding the state guilty of not funding its schools. Several teachers and students then crossed the street to post “wanted signs” on the entrance to the Department of Education Building. They were “greeted” by several police officers who took down the fliers that were posted on the building and the adjacent street signs. The protesters continued to post signs and eventually the officers stopped taking them down. The protestors, unscathed, then rejoined the rest of the marchers.
The BAP students drew several interesting parallels in the literature they handed out. First, they claim that “51 years after Brown v. Board of Education, Baltimore’s predominantly African-American schools remain unlawfully under-funded.” They also make the connection between the underfunding of the schools and the prison-industrial system: “The jails are full, because the schools are under-funded.”

Responsible Parties

The action was endorsed by a wide range of groups such as Members of Baltimore Education Advocates, All People’s Congress, ACORN, Baltimore Teacher’s Union, Maryland Education Coalition, SEIU District 1199eDC, the Green Party and five other organizations. One union activist, Leonora Colbert of the hospital workers 1199eDC,succinctly stated: "I'm here to support the students. They deserve to have a good education."

They don’t teach these things in school

Students did their homework and it showed in their impressive organization. The rally and march were particularly tight and well executed. Furthermore, the event organizers were alternating their tactics instead of simply employing the same old same old (such as having a microphone and a line of speakers). As one of the organizers pointed out before the march began, they have been mixing it up from one protest to the next, and this is their seventh. This rally was fun and full of energy (even though protestors are in dire need of coming up with some new protest chants). The political commitmnet was there, and several students were willing to risk arrest for a cause that they have fought for and believe in. These students set a great example both for their peers and older activists alike.

One of those older activists, a local high school teacher, told IMC that "all politics are theater" and that "we need to create situations which are spectacular in order to get people to notice." One of those not noticing was The Baltimore Sun who chose not to report on this event.

Want to help out?

Want to join the movement to acquire funding for Baltimore City schools? The next meeting of the Baltimore Education Advocates is Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 pm at the Seventh Baptist Church, St Paul and North Ave. Contact 410-243-4969.