Another protest was held today at ASDB. Teachers and Staff came out to show their support of the students. Tomorrow there will be a special board meeting in Phoenix.
More information surrounding this issue can be found on this facebook page or this website: http://asdbreports.com/
Full Set of photos here: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/asdbprotest2
Students at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) have been protesting since Thursday (4/18/13). The current superintendent Robert Hill has fired teacher Richard Layton and executive director Nancy Amann with no reason given. In addition, a well loved agricultural program was terminated. Superintendent Hill refuses to hear from the students or give any explanation of his actions. Two regularly scheduled board meetings which provide a forum for student voice have been cancelled. A letter from the students asking Hill to step down was sent but with no response.
Students in Tucson are being regularly required to speak out against the horrible decisions of their administration. If it’s not TUSD, it’s somewhere else. Who are these ridiculous people and how did they get to be in charge? I don’t know but I will continue to take photos to document what’s happening and share it with everyone because you and I both know that we can’t always count on the mainstream media…..
More information can be found here: http://asdbreports.com/
My photos from today are below.
Full Set: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/asdbprotest/
I gladly photograph for the community and put my work here for all to see for free because I want more truth out there than is offered by the local (or national) news. I want to continue to do this work. I am in the process of upgrading my equipment and need some help. I am a student at the UA and live on student wages so I can’t afford it all by myself, but with your help….
Please help me out by donating here: http://www.gofundme.com/summittphotography
I have some great rewards for those who donate. Thanks for much for everyone who follows me and shares my photos.
-Chris
A protest was held today at the TUSD board meeting to denounce the closing of 10 schools, all of which have majority minority populations. Many people showed up to speak at the call to the audience, a long line outside the building was formed. However, even by 6:30, when the call was scheduled to begin, they would not let anyone in. The reason given was related to violating fire code. There were also no speaker system set up for those who couldn’t be inside to hear the proceedings. ”We didn’t expect this many people,” the board said. It is curious however, that despite the fact that they didn’t expect a lot of people, there were barricades and cones set up from the very beginning.
I wasn’t able to see the call to the audience, here are my photos from outside.
Full Set: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/tusdbrdmtg4_9_13/
From UNIDOS:
The TUSD board has stressed that there is a $17 million dollar deficit that is limiting their sources to fund their schools and that there is nothing that can be done. These school closures are occurring where public education is needed most. Therefore, we ask community members to come together for this event to demand that the board does more with their power and “Find the Money and Stop School Closures.”
Though the decision to close down schools has been made, it’s not too late to overturn there decision; the board has from now till the start of the new school year to stop such an injustice. More importantly, the closure of 11 schools should not be allowed, especially in silence.
Over the years, the TUSD board has continuously failed the community, by undermining decisions that helped the welfare of students and all people in their district. Its time to act, our children have the right to education. Please join us in saving our children’s futures.
Today a march was held to call for the end to deportations and to demand political and economic quality. It was an unsanctioned march that started at Southside Presbyterian Church and ended at the Tucson Police Department on Stone. At the end point there were speeches and an act of civil disobedience.
I took a lot of photos and it was quite difficult to narrow it down, the best I could do was about 150. I KNOW it’s a lot but I assure you, every pic is worth it!
Full Set: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/marchforjustice/
As local police call Border Patrol, separating and deporting families, a national debate on Immigration Reform continues to grow. Over 1.5 million mothers, fathers, youth, day laborers, domestic workers, janitors, gardeners, cooks, and farmworkers, have been deported since 2009.
• Stop the Deportations!
• Collaboration between local police and Border Patrol separates families!
• We want united communities!
• No to the militarization of the border!
• We need an Immigration Reform that includes all 11 million people!
Today Malintzine (http://malintzine.com) hosted a community forum at JVYC with Andrea Smith, author and co-founder of INCITE! There was a substantial showing at the forum and a constructive discussion of accountability and what it looks like in the community was held. The pics from the event are here:
http://chrissummitt.com/blog/accountability/
Following the forum, a Launch party was held to celebrate the printing of the first issue of the paper version of the Malintzine blog. My full coverage of the event can be seen here:
http://chrissummitt.com/blog/malintzinelaunch
Malintzine is a community made up of radical mujeres, some of color and some queer, based in Tucson, Arizona. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, tias, lovers, partners, and friends, determined to document the experiences, narratives, and knowledge of those who dwell in society’s margins. We welcome submissions from all of you who have gained knowledge from the school of hard knocks: from living life as a person of color, a person with a disability, one who challenges heteropatriarchy and embraces queer culture, or from coming into your own female empowerment. We want to hear from everyone whose skin tones, body shape or size and language become the justification for social marginality and rejection, and from those who don’t have material or monetary privilege. Some of our most beloved comadres are men, carving out an alternative, anti-patriarchal masculinity; you might hear from them on our blog too.
A silent protest rally for justice was held today on the University of Arizona Mall. Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin. There were some speakers followed by a moment of silence.
Full set: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/trayvonsilentprotest/
Today, the End Streamline Coalition held a press conference in front of the federal courthouse to call for an end to the federal district court program known as Operation Streamline. There was a pretty good showing of people with signs and excellent speakers ( Marcelo Ruiz, Isabel Garcia (Derechos Humanos), Caroline Isaacs (AFSC), Andy Silverman, and community faith leaders) speaking out against the program. There was also a street theater performance mocking the streamline process.
Pictures: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/endstreamline/
From the facebook event page:
Every day as part of Operation Streamline, at least 70 migrant men and women are collectively processed and given criminal sentences prior to their deportation. Most, if not all of these migrants are sent to private prisons where companies profit handsomely from their incarceration. In 2011, contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accounted for 20 and 14 percent of revenue for CCA and GEO Group, respectively.
As discussion of Comprehensive Immigration Reform mounts in Congress, Senator McCain and the “gang of eight” have proposed an expansion of Operation Streamline and other federal felony prosecutions of people crossing the Mexican border looking for work or to reunite with family.
For many who have witnessed a Streamline hearing, the mere image of men and women shackled at the wrist, belly, and ankles being collectively herded through the legal process is enough to shock the conscience. Streamline raises serious and troubling questions about constitutionally protected due process, the growth of private prisons, the deepening criminalization of migrants and the exploding costs of contemporary immigration enforcement.
Full Set of PIctures here: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/endstreamline/
(I know it’s kind of large but I couldn’t let them go, it was hard enough to narrow it down this much…)
Today there was a protest calling for the release of both Raul Alcaraz Ochoa and Rene Meza Huertha without charges.
Raul Alcaraz Ochoa, a community organizer with the Southside Worker Center and Corazon de Tucson, was taken into Border Patrol (BP) custody at approximately 2:30pm this afternoon, after placing himself under a BP vehicle in a courageous act of civil disobedience, to prevent Rene Meza Huertha, a father of 6 from being taken into BP custody.
I got there late and missed the march but snapped a few pics afterwards. There were many more people there earlier but most had dispersed by the time I got there.
FULL SET HERE: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/freeraul/
A ‘Flash Round Dance’ took place in the middle of the Tucson Mall today to show support of the Idle No More movement.
The vision of INM revolves around Indigenous ways of knowing rooted in Indigenous sovereignty to protect water, air, land and all creation for future generations. The Conservative government bills beginning with Bill C-45 threaten Treaties and this Indigenous vision of sovereignty. The goal of the movement is education and to revitalize Indigenous peoples through awareness and empowerment.
Please learn more about the movement here: http://idlenomore.ca/
FULL SET OF PHOTOS IS HERE: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/idlenomore/
Today was the University of Arizona Board of Regents meeting. Dennis Deconcini sits on this board as well as the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the nation’s largest private prison company. There was a call to the audience at the start of this meeting and plans were made to call on Deconcini to step down from the CCA board as it directly contributes to the school to prison pipeline in Arizona.
Although 10-20 people showed up to speak to this issue, just prior to the call to the audience they were approached and told that only one person would be allowed to speak on this topic and only for 3 minutes so a spokesperson must be chosen. In addition, the length of the call to the audience was shortened from 30min to 15min.
I had to leave prior to the end of the meeting but here are some images from the time I was there.
Full Set: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/uaregents/
Today was the last of 3 public forums held in order for the community to express concerns about the proposed Desegragation/Unitary Status Plan directly to the Special Master. I think it was the most attended, at least 70 people spoke, and it ran an hour late. Only one speaker was against MAS, everyone else had beautiful words in support of the program. As usual, here are my pics.
FULL SET: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/desegforum3
Today was the second of 3 public forums held in order for the community to express concerns about the proposed Desegragation/Unitary Status Plan directly to the Special Master.
A proposed Unitary Status Plan to provide equal educational opportunities to African American and Latino students in Tucson Unified School District is available for public review and comment through November 28, 2012.
The proposed plan is just that, a propsal, the community input during these 3 meetings have the potential to effect the final version of the plan. Members from all parties involved in the desegragation case, Fisher, et al., Mendoza, et al. v. TUSD, CV 74-90 TUC DCB, as well as the special master headed a panel which listened to community input. There was not any input from the parties, they just sat and listened. Community input could come in person at either of the three forums or in the form of an email sent directly to special master up until Nov 28, 2012.
I wasn’t able to attend the first meeting but I made it to the one tonight and will attend tomorrow. Here are tonight’s pictures:
FULL Set: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/desegforum2
More info can be found here: http://tucsonusp.com/
A benefit arts festival was held at Skrappys to support migrant justice.
There were performances by:
Jasiri X, Invincible, 2Mex, Dj Dirty Verbs, Top Nax, Dj Sloepoke, Progreso with DJ Alias, Shining Soul
Visual Art Exhibit featuring:
Favianna Rodriguez, Julio Salgado, Oree Originol, Dignidad Rebelde, El Mac, Ernesto Yerena, Justseeds
Naturally, I took pictures. Here is the FULL SET:
http://chrissummitt.com/blog/tucsonstandup/
We have to print tomorrow! Any donation is appreciated. We want to showcase the historical struggle to save ethnic studies. My photographs as well as others will tell an amazing story. It will also be a fundraiser to help the legal defense of the classes.
https://www.wepay.com/donations/mas-through-the-lens-of-time
University Professor Dr. Roberto Rodriguez Calls on Elected Officials to Condemn Death Threats Regarding the Mexican American Studies Program in TUSD
On Thursday, August 2nd, Dr. Roberto Rodriguez and local elected officials held a press conference regarding unprosecuted death threats made in response to community activism surrounding the Mexican American Studies program in TUSD. The press conference was held at TUSD headquarters, 1010 E. 10th street at 10 a.m.
The press conference was called in light of the impending trial of an individual that made several threats against Dr. Rodriguez in 2011. His trial will begin next week, on August 7th.
FULL SET: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/cintlipressconf/
American Android, The Jons, and The B side Players rocked the house last night at the last event of Tucson Freedom Summer.
FULL SET: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/tfsconcert/
Today, TUSD had it’s annual district wide meeting. Pedicone made the meeting mandatory for all TUSD employees. A protest was held right in front. Check it out:
FULL SET: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/tusdtcc/
Miguel Ortega lead a comprehensive historical view of the Tucson civil rights victory - and all the advocacy and activities that took place during the 1990’s - that led to the establishment of the Mexican American Studies program.
FULL SET: http://chrissummitt.com/blog/mas1990s/
