At the rally, students shared their experiences working as a part of the Algebra project. They did so before a steadily growing crowd of 30-50 students and supporters, taking the microphone to testify to the positive impact that peer to peer education has had. It has impacted and improved not only their math skills, but their development as a whole, said the students and Algebra Project members.

According to the students, p2p education (peer-to-peer education) isn't just about a more effective way to teach the curriculum. It is a way of building leadership. It is not learning just to learn, but learning to teach and to give back to the community that taught them.

For graduates, funding is essential: By funding tutors coming out of the public schools and then back to the public schools, an employment opportunity is provided which makes a direct and much needed impact in the Baltimore community.

Students speakers especially emphasized the advocacy component of the Baltimore Algebra Project (BAP). Today's rally (which was followed by a mass convergence of students and supporters on "taxpayer night" in the city council chambers) was organized to a significant degree by the students themselves. The rally is continuing through the whole night (and beyond) with "Operation Occupation", a 24-hour encampment to demand the restoration of p2p funding.

It was inspiring to hear how much the students had learned through the math programs run by the Algebra project. Furthermore it was inspiring to hear how they had learned even more by teaching their younger peers, and how the Algebra Project had prepared them to stand up and fight for their right and their communities' right to an education.