Press Release

Thousands Expected for Saturday Rally in Houston for More Public Education Funding

AFT President Randi Weingarten Will Speak

For Release:

Contact:

Zeph Capo
713-623-8891
zcapo@hft2415.org

HOUSTON—Thousands of educators and their supporters are expected Saturday for a “Speak Out and Stand Together” rally in Discovery Green to support more public education funding.

Speakers will include Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; Mike Collier, candidate for lieutenant governor; Justin Nelson, candidate for state attorney general; state Rep. Donna Howard; Troy Reynolds, founder of Texans for Public Education; Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers; Louis Malfaro, Texas AFT president; teachers; pastors; and members of school boards.

“As we’ve seen in the teacher uprisings across the nation, educators and the public agree that children’s futures depend on a well-funded public education system. In Texas, we’re fighting for more public education funding and for the election of lawmakers who will join us in the fight. We need schools and classrooms that have the resources to provide a quality education, and teacher pay to recruit and retain teachers, not drive them out,” said Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers.

WHAT: Rally—the first statewide action of Texas school employees

WHEN: Saturday, May 19, noon to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE:           Discovery Green

                        1500 McKinney St., Houston

NOTE:              Teachers—English- and Spanish-speakers—will be available for interviews.

 

Contact the HFT’s Bryanda Sanchez at 713-623-8891 before or during the rally.

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The AFT represents 1.7 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.