Retaliation against LA high school students for Nov. 2 walkouts

Retaliation against LA high school students for Nov. 2 walkouts

FACT SHEET: Harassment and Retaliation Against High School Students

Press contact: Henry Carson, 323-336-3050

In city after city, high school students walked out in response to a call for No Work! No School! from The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime. Their presence energized protests nationwide, and played a crucial role in launching a movement that will not stop until Bush steps down and takes his whole program with him. In the L.A. area, there were walkouts at dozens of schools in the biggest movement of high school students since the walkouts against the anti-immigrant Proposition 187 in 1994.

But as the Call for this movement stated, "If we speak the truth, they will try to silence us. If we act, they will try to stop us." The exact number of students facing suspension, fines, expulsion, transfer or other measures is unknown. But The World Can't Wait has received reports indicating retaliation against many students at schools throughout the area.

The policy of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) regarding student walkouts was communicated in a memo to "all principals" dated October 26, 2005, and initialed by Dan Isaacs from the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. It stated, "Do not attempt to prevent students from leaving the campus." (A copy of this memo is available on request.)

In the weeks before November 2 there was a pattern of harassment and attempted intimidation at numerous schools. Students were told by administrators and security guards that they could receive truancy tickets and be subjected to hundreds of dollars of fines. They were forbidden to carry literature and other materials onto campus, such as stickers saying, "Resist or Die," or flyers carrying the Call from The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime. "Resist or Die" T-shirts were banned from campuses.

Young women at Locke H.S. in South Central LA were sent to the principal's office for having posters that called William Bennett a Nazi for saying that aborting all Black babies would be a good way to reduce crime. The principal confiscated all their posters and threatened them with being kicked out of school.

At Fairfax H.S. students reported that an announcement was made over the P.A. system saying that students would be suspended for walking out. Some teachers threatened to give students failing grades for the day. At Fairfax and other schools, students were told they'd miss the California Exit Exam and wouldn't be able to graduate.

November 1, there were more serious attacks on student organizers. At Reseda H.S., a ninth grader, Sara Escudero, was called into the principal's office. She was threatened with punitive transfer and with arrest for vandalism for having stickers. Then she was suspended for two days and told by the principal that he would begin expulsion procedures against her. (As a result of hundreds of outraged calls on Friday, November 4, Reseda High School authorities backed off and informed Sara that there would be no punishment at all.)
At Belmont H.S., a 16-year-old student, Geovany Serrano, was grabbed by school police, pepper-sprayed and arrested. This student is under house arrest with an ankle bracelet and phone surveillance, and faces criminal charges in addition to suspension.

On and after November 2, numerous principals, in direct contradiction to official policy, ordered the schools locked down: gates chained and padlocked, police stationed at exits, teachers required to close their doors and keep students in their classrooms.

At Van Nuys H.S., the principal issued a memo before November 2 saying the school would be locked down. When students tried to walk out, they were assaulted by deans, including one young woman who was pulled by the hair by one dean. Two women escaped by climbing a fence and later spoke at the rally in Westwood. Students reported that twenty students were given one-day suspensions, and at least two are being kicked out, transferred to another school. Other students were ticketed by police. One student's mother reported that his ticket was for "truancy and protesting against George Bush." Parent conferences to readmit suspended students to school were canceled by administrators.

Reseda H.S. was also locked down on November 2, with a police car parked in front of the main entrance. Students who tried to walk were taken to the office and given tickets. A Reseda High student reported that two students were arrested, and five were given tickets.

At Lynwood H.S. 40 - 50 students gathered on campus, prepared to walk out. Police were blocking some gates, and other gates were chained and locked. They staged a sit-in by the administration office. After a time, when only four students continued the sit-in, all were taken into the office, along with another student who was passing by, and charged with truancy for trying to walk out. They also face suspension. One of the people in the office made a racist comment to the young students: "You Mexicans have to stop climbing over the fence."
Since November 2, the administration at Lynwood has threatened retaliation-including transfers and suspensions-against those they claim are organizers. The administration has also told students that it will find and punish the leader. And a teacher who is against the Iraq War has also been threatened.

Lincoln H.S. in East LA was locked down as 150 students tried to walk out. At the Orthopedic Medical Magnet H.S., up to 70 students are being threatened with suspensions for walking out or not coming to school to attend protest events. At Locke High School students report that a large number of students may face suspension for
attempting to organize a walkout. At other schools, students were given detention for walking.

The World Can't Wait is investigating all reports that students turn in to us, and there is every indication that what we know now is only a hint of what has happened. These high school students need the support and assistance of everyone who reads this fact sheet. They need lawyers to help mount a legal defense against LAUSD retaliation. They need financial support. And they need political support. Everyone reading this should fire off a letter of outrage to the LAUSD and call Superintendent Roy Romer's office demanding that there be no retribution of any sort against the students who organized for and participated in the November 2nd World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime walkouts. Romer's numbers are: PHONE - (213) 241-7000, FAX - (213) 241-8442. Romer can also be emailed at superintendent@lausd.net. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it. And contact the World Can't Wait office in L.A. at (323) 462-4771 / email worldcantwait_la@yahoo.com.
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URGENT UPDATE: Belmont High School student Geovany Serrano has just been notified by Belmont High School authorities that he will not be allowed to return to Belmont High and will be transferred to another school. Geovany remains under house arrest and is facing criminal charges for passing out flyers calling for the November 2nd walkout. Call Superintendent Romer's office to protest this outrageous act of retaliation. There is a protest planned for Tuesday November 8, 7:00 AM, at Belmont, 1525 W. 2nd St., including high school and college students, World Can't Wait and Code Pink. Call School Principal Ignacio Garcia at: PHONE - (213) 250-0244, FAX - (213) 250-9706.


World Can't Wait: www.worldcantwait.org, worldcantwait_la@yahoo.com, 323-462-4771

Press contact: Henry Carson, 323-336-3050

ACTION ALERT!!! Protest Hot 97!

Just moments before it was about to play, Hot97 banned this ad about Nov 2: http://www.worldcantwait.org/media/nov2nyc.mp3

The ad itself was a collaboration of artists Boots Riley from The Coup and Miles Solay from Outernational. It can break down walls. For some working inside the station, the idea of this spot reaching millions of urban youth in New York at this critical time was inspiring. But the owners of Hot97, Emmis Corporation, had their legal department call Hot 97 and ordered them to pull the ads. They do not want the World Can't Wait message reaching the youth who would be the soldiers in their unjust wars!!

Email/Call the following NYC radio stations -- demand their radio stations play the ad Hot97 Banned! Tell them you're walking out, and that the Bush regime will be driven out! If they won't play the ad, tell them to interview you about the walkouts at your school! Tell them why the world can't wait! Make sure to email/tell them the above link, so they can hear the ad.

Power 105.1 power1051fm@clearchannel.com
WBAI info@wbai.org
KROCK webmaster@krockradio.com or call 212-246-5762 or go to http://www.krockradio.com/ to send an instant message!!!
Fordham university's radio station: 718 817-4550 or email: thefolks@wfuv.org or, better yet, email each staff person: http://www.wfuv.org/wfuv/email/
Z100: 1-800-242-0100, -212-239-2300, Z100@clearchannel.com, send text msg: 55100
Columbia University's station: american@wkcr.org OR ial@wkcr.org or news@wkcr.org (212) 854-9920
WNYC radio: 212-669-3333, listenerservices@wnyc.org
WFMU: http://wfmu.org/mailus.php or Office Phone: (201) 521-1416 or On Air Phone: (201) 200-9368 Or send a message to the station manager: http://wfmu.org/email.php?id=30&return=%2Fmailus.php
1010wins: info@wins.com
WNYU: Office: 212-998-1660FM & NetRadio Studios: 212-998-1818To contact the on-air DJ via Instant Messenger (IM), the screen name is wnyuradio or email the program.director@wnyu.org or news@wnyu.org or psa@wnyu.org

Call Ennis Communications at IR@emmis.com or call (317) 266.0100, and let them know that their actions have only given us one more reason to NOT WAIT on November 2nd. Demand that they lift the ban immediately. Call and email Hot 97 at (212) 229.9797, hot97@hot97.com

Tell Hot 97 to take off the muzzle. Tell them they were right to approve the ad and they should play it now. Then download the ad into your cell phones and ipods and play them everywhere. Here are the words to the ad:

Hey, this is Boots Riley from The Coup.
The world can't wait to drive out the Bush Regime.
November 2, no work, no school.
We gonna march.
Join us. 12 noon at Union Square.
Come on, you seen the pictures.
Bush made torture into a sport and justifies it.
You saw Iraq destroyed by a war based on lies.
We all watched Bush leave people to die in New Orleans and treat people like criminals.
This regime is what's criminal. The Bush Regime is out to remake the world.
Unending war, a devastated environment, forced religion, no right to abortion, no dissent, no critical thought.
We have to stop this now. If we don't we will be forced to accept it.
The future we get is up to us.
The beginning of the end of the Bush Regime starts Wednesday November 2.
Join us at 12 noon at Union Square.

Minutes before its scheduled airing, Emmis Communications, owners of Hot 97 in New York, pulled the plug on the World Can't Wait, Drive Out the Bush Regime Ad. Hot 97 is "the" number one rap station in this city. The station itself had consciously approved the content of the ad knowing that this was both controversial and important.

Youth today have come of age under the gruesome shadow of the Bush Regime. An entire generation has been betrayed, brutalized, criminalized, enlisted, denied reproductive rights. The US Military saturates the youth "market" with slick high-tech ads aimed at turning young people into cannon fodder and the Christian Right spends millions to indoctrinate youth with politics of intolerance and punishment. We stand at this unprecedented time in history. The energy and creativity of young people around the country will take this movement to the level where it will be unstoppable.This cannot go down this way.

Organizer Sunsara Taylor: “The refusal of Hot97 to air our ads for November 2nd shows even more urgently the need for thousands to pour into the streets on Wednesday to break open the political atmosphere and take a big step towards forcing the Bush regime to step down.”

TO RADIO STATIONS: Here is what you can do: PLAY THE BANNED WORLD CAN'T WAIT AD TODAY before November 2nd. Send this email to everyone you know in the media. Call in to local radio stations, send to place you think you can get this on the air. Forward this to press contacts and get it posted prominently on websites. Get dejays to talk about this on the air and announce it at gigs.

But most importantly PLAY THE SPOT - it says it all. Check it out www.worldcantwait.org or Call 866-973-4463

A Message to High School Students by Allen Lang

There will be No Turning Back; November 2 We Launch a Movement

"There is a lot of stuff that we thought couldn't be done like going to the moon, flying an airplane... There is always that possibility that youcan do it and it goes down in history. So why not be part of history now?"
-from M, H.S Student in Chicago

You can count the hours away from November 2nd. It is right around the corner. You can feel it in your gut, andtensions are running high as we approach the 2nd. There's a buzz in thehallways and cafeterias, classrooms and schoolyards at high schools acrossthe country around Nov.2nd, Bush and what walkouts have to do with Drivingout the Bush Regime.Many are just hearing about Nov.2nd from friends or radio ads that havebeen playing on local Hip Hop stations. Students are calling for walkoutsand campus shutdowns overnight, recognizing that if there has ever been atime in their lives to step out boldly, it is NOW.

A lot of us have been waking up mad early every morning, passing outbundles of flyers, distributing sheets of stickers, meeting with studentsafter school or passing out flyers to our classmates and posting upNov.2nd on My space accounts and other internet forums. Everyday, organizers have been laying out the stakes the world is facing,challenging students to be the first ones to step out in their schools andstep up in taking responsibility to lead city wide efforts.

This has been and will continue to be a sharp struggle within a deeplypolarized society. There have been people arrested, beaten and bullied. Agitation on school steps have been electric and struck a deep chord withstudents. We've had students take bundles of Calls and security guardsrip them out of their hands. There are layers of ripped down Resist orDie stickers covered up by new stickers on bathroom walls from SouthCentral to New Hampshire. We received a letter from a student in a remoteSouthern town who has had faculty tell him that it is treasonous todistribute World Can't Wait Calls and news from a mother in Oregon who istaking her kids out of school on Nov. 2nd because this Regime HAS to go. There have been heroic parents and faculty who have stood their groundagainst threats of fines, losing their jobs and status in the community,while faculty boards in cities like Oakland have passed resolutions insupport of the walkouts.

It has been a roller coaster. High school students have faced down the naysayers and the Billy clubs. From day one, we have been bombarded with statements like, "Students aren't going to walk out, they don't care about politics, they can't seebeyond what effects them, and they don't see their futures wrapped up inwhether or not we drive out this regime". You have to take all the bullshit from your teachers, and parents, and the students who ridiculeyou for not willing to sit on your hands in this historic moment and say, "FUCK IT, we are right! Tell us they are not torturing people for sport in Guantanamo. Tell us they aren't making moves to erase evolution from ourtextbooks. Tell us children in Iraq don't have their hearts torn apartwhen forced to watch U.S soldiers rounding up their family knowing thehorrors they will face." What right do these principals have pullingstudents into their office and telling them it's illegal to flyer inschool?

The news is swirling with monumental events having it appear that the Bush Regime is on the ropes, limping on their last leg. Let us not be fooledfor one second. These people think they are on a mission from God. Theyare ruthless and relentless, and as they are being indicted for crimes, itwould be CRIMINAL for us not to seize this moment and bust things wideopen.

"Sacrifice is involved; we have to put a lot of things on the line. Right now millions of people's lives around the world are put on the line andhave no choice; those people in Guantanamo Bay, the entire country ofIraq. We are alone… until we step out in this way. When we step out boldand determined with our sights aimed at nothing less than driving the BushRegime out, as controversial as that is and should be, then people willhave our backs. People might get suspended or expelled, in the greaterscheme of things that's not so bad."
- Miles Solay

We cannot forget for one moment that we really are going against the grainand challenging deeply held assumptions about how things change and whoare the people that are instrumental in that change. But more importantly, we can not forget for one moment that the Call has to inform everything wedo as we continue make further leaps in our efforts to drive out this Regime.

This Call has resonated with millions and has brought together studentsfrom different sides of the tracks. How many times do you see students from New Trier running in the streets with students from Roberto Clemente? (New Trier is an elite High School on the North shore of Chicago Alma Mataof Donald Rumsfeld and Roberto Clemente is featured in Jonathan Kozol's new book detailing the horrific inequalities in inner city schools.) High school students can change the character of the afternoon convergences,getting up on the mic and telling everyone about the heroic actions theytook in the morning to get to these historic rallies. Students will bringa real defiant and uncompromising tone to the day, inspiring others and driving home the necessity of this movement.

"We as high school students have not only the right to join this movementbut the responsibility to do so."
-from a L.A HS student.

Right now with the few days ahead we have the responsibility to not let upfor one second and intensify our efforts. Remember this is only thebeginning, but we need this beginning to be a big explosion of resistanceand not just a slight whisper. Check out Sunsara Taylor's Message toStudent Organizers and the interview with Miles Solay and Quetzal Ceja. There will be a different dynamic in the our conversations with others asthe day nears closer and the people who have been scoping out if this isreal or not need to be there on the 2nd.

"If you get your friend in on it and they get their friends in on it and they get their friends in on it, all of a sudden you have a nice littlemass of people that are ready to go... The whole point of this is to throwoff the
city and everything going on - to cause such an impact. What if wecould shut down the city for a day? Think of the impact." -Chicago High School students on the walkouts

Statement from AiMara Lin, with Not In Our Name

Today there was a press conference in NYC, calling on lawyers and others to monitor the high school walkouts.

My name is AiMara Lin, and I work with the Not In Our Name project. This time last year, many of us were agonizing over how to be truthfully against the war during an election where there was no anti-war candidate. We are on the eve of a dreadful anniversary, of stolen elections. Whether you believe that it was electronic polling fraud, intimidation and harassment of oppressed communities of color, or a flawed system overall, we all know that this crew came to office against the wishes of people all over the world.

But, if the World Can't Wait organizers are right, and I certainly hope they are, we will look back on Nov. 2, not as a dreadful anniversary, but a day that people decided to turn things around, determined to stop the course this government is taking us all on, and accept nothing less than justice for all of humanity.

When I went back home to California a few weeks ago, a lawyer I used to work with asked me, "Where are the students? They need to lead like we did in the '60s! They're the key!" I called her last night to tell her the students in New York are walking out on November 2, and that lawyers like herself should be there to defend them on the spot if law enforcement gets out of hand. Not In Our Name New York City is urgently calling on lawyers, legal workers and clergy to defend the audacious resistance of young people who are walking out tomorrow, from over 20 high school and college campuses, as they take a bold step in the fight for humanity.

We are inviting everyone else to join us as we recite the Pledge of Resistance out loud at 11:30 AM in Union Square, where we will be collectively creating an auditory buzz of resistance until the World Can't Wait rally starts at Noon, and as students stream into the square from across the city. If you're running late, make sure you have the pledge in your pocket and recite it as you travel. You can find it at www.notinourname.net!

It is not enough in these times to know that our government is committing crimes against humanity, we must do something about it that creates a climate of defiance to every turn of the Bush Administration's dreadful agenda. In the words of the Not In Our Name New Statement of Conscience written just before Bush's inauguration, "We must come together whenever we can, and we must act alone whenever we have to... We pledge to create a community to back courageous acts of resistance. We stand with the people throughout the world to fight every day for the right to create their own future."

See you tomorrow in the streets, and let it be the beginning of the end for this terrible crew of warmakers and their agenda.

Welcome, High Schools Driving Out the Bush Regime!!

We decided to create a subsite on the Youth and Student site just for high schools to promote ideas and plans and experiences in different areas that are particular to high schools.

First, Listen to This: Interviews with experienced organizers of high school walk-outs

On this Page:
Statements from high school students in NYC and LA
Ideas for Halloween
Plan for NYC High School Students - take up these ideas in your school!
Permission Slip - print out enough for all students in your school to take home for their parents to sign. Bring it in to your teachers/administration. (coming soon!)
Letter from Teachers - share this with your teachers, ask them to sign on, share it with other teachers.

Nov 2. - No School! The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime!

What to do: This weekend & Halloween

Visibly transforming your town: Stores & Parents Can show Support

One key thing right now is to build visible community support for Nov. 2 and the walk-outs. Administrators and anyone who opposes these walkouts should basically be put on notice that students and youth will not be intimidated! Many will step out to defend students - we have your back!

Students should be going to store owners and asking them to put the call, some stickers, and/or a poster in their windows. They will not be alone when they do this - stores across the country will also be doing this, and they would be taking an important stand, regardless. Stores can act as "safe spaces" for youth who walk out and don't want to get arrested; stores can welcome students into their stores to protect them from police harassment. Some cities have green posters with the World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime slogan on it, as well as details about the local convergence sites - these are the best to use, along with the call. BRING TAPE WITH YOU, so that you can put it up as soon as they agree.

Parents can also show support by putting their signs on their lawns or in windows. They should also let the schools know that they EXPECT their students to not be intimidated or blocked in any way from participating in the day.

Anyone who gets intimidated or threatened with suspension, or punished in any way - TELL US IMMEDIATELY.

Halloween
This day provides us with a good opportunity to show the reality of the horrors of the Bush Regime - in creative and even shocking ways.

For example:
In NYC, people are planning on participating in the Halloween march which attracts thousands of participants and onlookers. Ideas are still in the works, but basically, the vision is:

Have a large sign that says (this is still in development!!),
"Bush's Future, If We Accept It:
Halloween Decadence Banned; Torture Legalized"

This could be carried by "handmaid's tale"-like women who look chaste and submissive (bonnets work)
followed by men in suits carrying enlarged "books" with the "title" Bible Taken Literally
behind them will be people dressed as prisoners wearing pink triangles - some could have bloodied stones attached to their heads (signs on them could read, "Jailed/Executed For Being Gay"), women with large/visible/bloody hangers and bloodied crotches (will need light-colored pants), people dressed as abu ghraib prisoners and army personnel who are holding the leash, pushing them along, etc., and one person dressed as Bush/Dracula. You could have someone dressed as a doctor with a noose around their neck and a black hood over their head (or a large bullet wound) that says, "Executed For Performing Abortions"

"2008 is Too Late!
Real Horrors on Halloween"

One that says:
"It Doesn't Have to Be This Way: Nov 2: NO SCHOOL. NO WORK.
UNION SQUARE. NOON" (put your own convergence info, obviously!)

We will not be intimidated! The future is at hand! - Statement from NYC High School students

Many students jokingly compare schools to prison. Recently that joke has become a frightening reality. Shortly after news of our organization’s goal to mobilize students to walk out of school on November 2, 2005, the administration of Martin Luther King high school stated that the school will be locked down. On October 27, 2005, MLK’s administration contacted Beacon School’s administration. Our arranged meeting at Beacon was cancelled as a result and now also on lock down for November 2.

This is unacceptable! Throughout this week we have received nothing but negative input on our positions as youth organizers for The World Can’t Wait - Drive out the Bush Regime. As concerning as it was to have our teacher, especially known for her activism, tell us that our attempt for youth mobilization was trivial and "cute"; it only makes us try harder. This teacher openly stated that we, as teenagers, have no power and we should focus on people who can vote.

Many students have also brought up this point. But we Do have power, we are the leaders of TODAY, not tomorrow. We are living in dangerous times and its important to take action regardless of how old you are. By participating in November 2 walk out, we will show our power. We are the future and the future is at hand.

Victoria Lena and Simóne Luminosa
2 High school Students
(From an all Girl Catholic School in NYC)

Statement from High School Student from LA

We are gathered here today to put out this call of The World Cant wait Drive out the Bush Regime, a movement that kicks off on November the second, a movement that will be remembered for generations to come. This date marks the re-election of george w bush, but after this year this date will be remembered as Beginning of the end of this whole regime!!!

We as high school students have not only the right to join this movement but the responsibility to do so. November the second will be an extremely important date for all the youth around the united states, this is because on November the second our future will be decided. Are we just going to stand on the side lines and continue to be ran by a bunch of fascist that day by day are taking our rights away ? I say no more! This has to stop NOW!! This whole regime, if its not stopped now, it will continue to carry on its genocidal agenda. An agenda that was showed during and on the aftermath of Katrina.

People that want to prevent us from speaking out against this regime are not so different from this regime, but really is there anything or anyone that is important enough to stop thousands of high school students to walk out of their schools and make the bold statement that this government does not represent us and that we will drive them out. The future of this generation and the generations to come is at stake. The tactics that this regime has been using on people is the same tactic that the administrators and police will try to use on us. I am speaking of fear. We will get threatened with tickets, suspension, and probably arrests. The question is are we going to let these little problems stop us from facing and fighting a huge problem head on? I say no!! We owe it to the millions of people that are getting tortured, murdered and left to die by this regime.

If people in the 60’s wouldn’t have resisted and fought against segregation head on, we would still be living in a society in which segregation was a policy that was openly accepted. Now just think for a minute, if we do not resist and drive out this regime, what would the future hold for us? I’ll tell you what!! It would be a future in which torture would be looked upon as a good and necessary thing to do, a future in which women will go back into being incubators, depriving them from abortions or any type of contraceptives, and finally a future in which minorities will STILL be looked upon as second class individuals.

This is why I say RESIST OR DIE! on November the second. Tickets or no tickets, suspensions or no suspensions, get out to the streets no matter what. Do not be intimidated by anyone. This will be a struggle but it will get done. “That which you will not resist and mobilize to stop, you will learn - or be forced - to accept.”

Will you accept this??!?!??

LJ from LAHS.

Share with teachers and parents!!

NY Teachers Against Bush- "Our Kids Can't Wait!"

We, as educators, support the call “THE WORLD CAN’T WAIT, DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME!” We say, “OUR KIDS CAN’T WAIT, DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME!” We are calling on all teachers, parents, and students to take this up!

Education is under direct attack by this administration. Legislation like “No Child Left Behind”, only serves to further segregate the public school system, failing our children and leaving most of them behind. School funding must be made available to all schools, not just the ones with higher test scores. Jonathan Kozol, author, has said that we are in the process of restoring apartheid education in America! Can we really sit back and accept this? As stated in our call “That which we do not resist and fight to change, we will learn or be forced to accept.”

This government is sending military into our schools and giving them the right to request the records of any student. Why is the government after student records? To seek out the kids with the low test scores (due to unfair testing) to prove to them and their families that the USA army is the best chance they've got?

This government is turning our students into quick and easy military recruits.

Can we really sit back and accept this?

This government has mandated that our children “be held accountable” and are demanding that our children take high stakes tests every year in their schools in order to prove themselves for further funding. A report from Policy Analysis for California Education shows clearly that the more diverse a school is and the more economically disadvantaged students it enrolls, the less likely it is to make Adequate Yearly Progress, which leads to direct punitive action from the government. In other words, the message to struggling schools is, “Fix your problems, get your test scores up, or we shut you down!”

Can we really sit back and accept this?

This government has imposed a separate and unequal education, reduced to test preparation, for the nation’s most vulnerable children.

Can we really sit back and accept this?

Could it be that the state testing mandates with NCLB are inextricably linked to the need for a draft? How incredibly convenient for the military to have a plethora of data on our black youth which show them unfit for college due to the unjust tests given to kids who don’t have resources in their schools to GET an education, thusly turning these same kids into prime military candidates!

This government spends more of its efforts on criminalizing its youth than educating its youth! According to Jonathan Kozol, it costs us $64,000 a year to incarcerate an adult on Rikers Island, and $93,000 a year for a child on Rikers Island, which is 11 times what it spends on the average NYC public school student, and 18 times what is spent on an average 1st grader in the South Bronx. This government uses lower test scores to promote racism, bigotry, and hatred.

Can we really sit back and accept this? No, no, no! The future of our children depends on our actions now.

Nov. 2nd, no school, no work, join the movement to DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME!
OUR KIDS CAN”T WAIT!

NYC High School Plans - Take These Up In Your Area!

There are a number of things we in NYC identified as key to bring forward the students. And there were a few things we needed to grasp: one, is that spontaneity is not with us - these walkouts require more than a bzz or for everyone to know about it. There needs to be a concrete plan! Like who's going to walk out first, how will everyone know when to walkout and where to go, and for schools that are on lockdown, they should just not go. So, here is the concrete plan from NYC --

Key things we identified:
1. Club endorsements (especially clubs that are in different schools throughout a city). Endorsement means they sign onto the call, organize their members and others to participate, and they visibily support it through flyering, or stickering, or wearing the WCW or Resist or Die shirts.
2. Giving expression to the content of the call - this is a great way to be creative, too. Ideas below - from skits to posters to getting us to speak in classes! We especially wanted the students who've been putting their bodies on the line, doing the torture drama, and getting arrested, to speak in classes....
3. Visibility and getting practice acting together; example: everyday, wearing an orange arm band that shows you're an organizer (orange is the color of the Guantanamo Bay jumpsuits). Some students here also got orange canvas shoulder bags and spraypainted Resist or Die ont them. Also, you need to announce all over the details for the walkout at your school!
4. Permission slips - as a way to involve the community and parents who need to defend their students from any punishment that administrators or others may threaten.

MAIN FOCUS FOR THIS WEEK:
ASK ALL YOUR TEACHERS/PROFESSORS TO INVITE US TO SPEAK IN YOUR CLASSES –
The 5 WCW youth who got arrested at Hunter College last week making into all kinds of media) for protesting torture, who are putting their bodies on the line, are available to speak about what happened, about this historic moment we’re in, and why youth need to take history into their hands.
ASK CLUBS IN YOUR SCHOOL, AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT TO ENDORSE NOV 2. THIS HAS TO BECOME A MAJOR QUESTION ON CAMPUS.

EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL, 5PM: come discuss how it’s going with other students @ Pizzeria on Amsterdam & 83rd (on west side of Amsterdam)

WEAR YOUR ORANGE ARM BAND EVERY DAY as a sign you're an organizer. A student from Beacon High School said he saw tons of kids wearing them on Thursday. Yay!


************************************
MONDAY, OCT 24: TODAY IT STARTS.
WEAR (and get others to wear) AN ORANGE ARM BAND AS A SIGN YOU’RE ORGANIZING FOR NOV. 2. Orange is the color of the jumpsuits worn in Guantanamo concentration camp. BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS: (as a countdown: post a different reason each day why students should walkout)
POST ALL OVER SCHOOLS/IN LOCKERS signs today that say:
“Your government, on the basis of outrageous lies, is waging a murderous and utterly illegitimate war in Iraq, with other countries in their sights.
9 days until NOV 2 -- What will YOU do? -- NO SCHOOL. UNION
SQUARE. NOON
worldcantwait.org”

After school: Do a dramatic reading of The WCW Call on the trains with your friends (walk onto a train car, wait for the doors to close, read out loud, then tell people “No School. No Work. Nov 2, worldcantwait.org” Then go to the next car.

TUESDAY, OCT 25:
Perform “disappearance skit” or “torture dramatization”. (Ask us how, if you missed the demo on Sunday – or view torture video online at http://worldcantwait.org/media)

Reason #2 to POST ALL OVER SCHOOLS/IN LOCKERS:
“Your government puts people in jail on the merest suspicion, refusing them lawyers, and either holding them indefinitely or deporting them in the dead of night.”
8 days until NOV 2 -- What will YOU do?
NO SCHOOL. UNION
SQUARE. NOON
worldcantwait.org

WEDNESDAY, OCT 26:
Today is “Wear your Resist or Die shirt” Day – wear it, sell it to classmates! Perform the Hanger skit: Go in to a class and hand out hangers and say, “If we choose to wait three more years, this will be the available reproductive health care for women. Learn how to use it or drive out the Bush regime.” Then stay to discuss, if you can. Wait outside after to tell kids about Nov 2.

Reason #3 to POST ALL OVER SCHOOLS/IN LOCKERS:
“Your government is moving to deny women here, and all over the world, the right to birth control and abortion.”
7 days until NOV 2 -- What will YOU do?
NO SCHOOL. UNION SQUARE. NOON
worldcantwait.org

THURSDAY, OCT 27:
Today is No Theocracy Day!
Perform bible skit in government/policy/philosophy/women’s studies or science classes..(The Bible Idea: walk into class and announce there’s a new textbook, and hand out the bible – or, if you only have one, pick an appropriate quote, then tell them that there are fundamentalists in key positions from the military, to the supreme court, to the white house, who believe the bible should be taken literally as the basis for all things in society. Read the quote, and say, “discuss what this would mean, if taken literally” Then stay to discuss, if you can. Wait outside after to tell kids about Nov 2.

Reason #4 to walkout ALL OVER SCHOOLS/IN LOCKERS:
“Your government is moving each day closer to a theocracy, where a narrow and hateful brand of Christian fundamentalism will rule.”
6 days until NOV 2 -- What will YOU do?
NO SCHOOL. UNION SQUARE. NOON
worldcantwait.org

FRIDAY, OCT 28:
This is Defend Science Day!
Read in class, or pass this out. Feel free to be creative with the topic: “Right now, global warming poses an acute danger for the planet. The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases. But despite the horrible threat to humanity from even existing levels of greenhouse gas emissions, the Bush regime intends to vastly expand the burning of fossil fuels and is actively opposing a scientific approach to this planetary problem. Global warming is already causing alarming environmental changes. To name a few: Glaciers and ice sheets are melting. Island nations and coastal villages are being worn away through rising sea levels and storm surges. The more scientists learn about the real evidence and dangers of global warming, the more they are sounding the alarm about the need to act immediately. The evidence is clear that global warming is accelerating, with potentially catastrophic effects to ecosystems and humanity on a world scale. The environmental future of our planet is hanging in the balance. Should we really wait three more years? NOV 2: What will you do?”

Reason #5 to POST ALL OVER SCHOOLS/IN LOCKERS:
“Your government suppresses the science that doesn’t fit its religious, political and economic agenda, forcing present and future generations to pay a terrible price.”
5 days until NOV 2 -- What will YOU do?
NO SCHOOL. UNION SQUARE. NOON
worldcantwait.org

SATURDAY, OCT 29:
Meet up at NOON at the steps on Union Square. We will march along march route (Union Square, west on 14th st., north on 8th ave. to Times Square) to get stores to put up The Call/WCW posters in their windows. Will they be there on NOV 2?
Banner drops.

SUNDAY, OCT 30: (Mischief Night!)
Decorate the city with pictures from the torture at Guantanamo/Abu Ghraib/names of the disappeared. (if people have projectors, the images can illuminate buildings, or people can create/decorate with banners).
With words like, "NYC YOUTH HAVE NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY THAT TORTURES"

FINAL DISCUSSION/PLANNING FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOV. 2!!!!

MONDAY, OCT 31: HALLOWEEN
Reason #6 to POST ALL OVER SCHOOLS/IN LOCKERS:
“Your government enforces a culture of greed, bigotry, intolerance and ignorance.”
2 days until NOV 2 -- What will YOU do?
NO SCHOOL. UNION SQUARE. NOON
worldcantwait.org

Announce in classrooms: Today, all of you/us are gay. The person you have loved and lived with for years has just been in a serious car accident. They are unconscious. You go to the hospital, but you can’t visit them or make medical decisions for them; if you have children together, it doesn’t matter because you have no custody rights; and you can’t inherit your partner’s property if they die without a will and they can’t be covered by your health care. They could die before you ever see them. You are not people to the Bush regime. WHY SHOULD WE TOLERATE THIS ONE MORE MINUTE, NEVERMIND 3 MORE YEARS?! ARE WE PEOPLE OR NOT? When do the camps or death marches come? Don’t be fooled – because there are forces in power who do believe in the death penalty for the “crime” of homosexuality. When will you act?”

3PM -- "What Will You Do Nov 2" March through Village
Meet at the fountain in Washington Square Park for a "What Will You Do Nov 2" March - practice for Nov 2 - from NYU, to Cooper Union, to New School.

(Halloween is a big deal in NYC, but our plans can be adopted for any town or city)

WE WILL THEN JOIN THE HALLOWEEN MARCH!! (starts at 7PM) –dress as Bush, or wear the torture out fit (orange jumpsuit, black pillow case, dog leash) – be creative. We want to represent the “horrors” of the Bush
regime!

TUESDAY, NOV 1:
Reason #6 to POST ALL OVER:
“Your government is openly torturing people, and justifying it. TOMORROW IS NOV 2 -- What will YOU do?
NO SCHOOL. UNION SQUARE. NOON
worldcantwait.org”

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2005!!!!! NO SCHOOL!!!!!! UNION SQUARE!!! NOON!!!

Share This with Teachers and Parents!!!

Urgent Message to Educators- from Larry Felson, OEA site rep at Oakland High
AN URGENT MESSAGE TO EDUCATORS ON THE WORLD CANT WAIT CALL TO DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME >From Larry Felson, teacher and OEA site rep at Oakland High, Oakland, California November 2nd, 2005 is shaping up to be a major day of protest against the Bush regime, a day which will usher in a whole new movement to change the course of history! There are demonstrations and actions called for in over thirty cities, thousands of endorsements are coming in, and WORLDCANT WAIT/DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME is picking up steam. As educators what we do can make a huge difference. On October 3rd, 2005, the Oakland Educational Association (OEA) representative assembly, in a spirit of righteous solidarity, unanimously passed a resolution I authored which "supports the right to participate in the November 2nd national day of protests and supports the policy of no reprisals against students, teachers and others in the school community who may take-off work or school to take part in protest activities that day." If this was Germany in the early 30's and you could see the outlines of the oncoming onslaught of Hitler and the Nazis, would you support a call to build a movement to drive them out? Would you join with or stand up for students and teachers and thousands of others who walk out of schools and jobs to take part in a day of resistance that could spark a whole new path forward against the rising fascism? If this were Selma or Birmingham or Kent State or San Francisco in the late 60's, where would you be, who would you stand with? What about Cesar Chavez and the farm- workers, the Rodney King uprisings, the struggle to free Mumia Abu Jamal, the Battle of Seattle, and the protests against the Iraq Wars I and II? These have all been momentous struggles in which students and teachers have played pivotal roles, and have not only walked out of schools and jobs but put their hearts and souls and bodies on the line. And we are facing just such a critical moment in history right now, with perhaps even more to lose and a whole world to win! The continuing slaughter of the Iraqi people! The exposure of Bush and the government surrounding New Orleans and the horrendous treatment of Black people. The vicious attack on poor and immigrant youth and youth of color represented by "No Child Left Behind," as well as the attempt to turn our schools into recruiting centers for their wars of expansion and greed! These are outrageous crimes that must be stopped! As the WORLD CANT WAIT call puts it: "The Bush Regime is setting out to remake society very quickly, in a fascist way, and for generations to come. A new movement is now forming to stop this disastrous course by taking action and on November 2nd it begins: a mass political resistance that will not stop until this regime is driven from office." I urge educators across the country to take up WORLD CANT WAIT/DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME activities on November 2nd and to pass similar resolutions of support and no reprisals against those who participate. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

Don't Be a Bystander: High School Students are getting in the Driver's Seat

by RJ Schinner
10/05/05

“If you feel and know something is wrong, you need to speak up. You can’t just be a bystander, or it will get worse. Not just for yourself, but for people in the future.”
-student at Beacon High School, NYC

High school students across the country, from the South Bronx to Springfield, Missouri to Berkeley are gearing up for walk-outs and protests on Nov. 2nd. It stands out how these youth are taking this up with the spirit captured in the above quote: that we cannot accept the future as it is shaping up under Bush.

From Under Surveillance to Out on the Streets: Dewitt Clinton High

Some are directly facing the latest police state measures on the road towards fascism. Students at Dewitt Clinton High in the South Bronx are now forced through metal detectors in the morning, locked inside an overcrowded school all day (built for 2-3 thousand, now with a student body of 5,000), and instead of having adequate teachers and books, getting harassed and sometimes attacked by increasing numbers of police, inside and outside of school. As one student remarked, “there’s more police than teachers,” and (the police) “treat us like animals.” Rather than accept going to what looked more like a prison than a school, 1,500 students walked out on Sept. 19th, took to the streets, and marched on the school board, demanding an end to this repressive environment. These are the youth who are treated like “criminals,” who by and large are offered no future but prison, the military, or hustling to survive, and they are setting a powerful example of defiance and refusing to be treated this way.

There are some important lessons from this advanced experience. First, how this walk-out started: while everyone at the school were outraged by the police state conditions, most were hesitant to do anything about it. This all changed when one student stood outside in protest one morning, and after a few hours, as others got fed up of waiting in line to be searched and criminalized through metal detectors, was joined by 1,500. As one student put it, “unless we who have the guts and passion stand up, others won’t join up with us.”

Second, taking this action also showed these students the potential power they have. These are youth who are constantly told they are worthless and discarded by a rotten education system which holds out no future. But when these youth stood up, this galvanized support from others and put a check on the powers-that-be.

And third, taking part in this outpouring of resistance got these youth thirsty for a deeper understanding of what are the problems and solutions to the problems humanity faces, and how to continue the struggle. One student described seeing people she thought were apathetic before digging into World Can’t Wait fliers and copies of Revolution newspaper. These youth are not only concerned about the repression they face at their school, but are making the connections between this and the other outrages in society (like the mass murder committed by the Bush regime in New Orleans), and gearing up for walk-outs and protests on Nov. 2nd.

Spreading the Spirit

What’s going down at Dewitt is a particularly inspiring example, but there’s a lot more shaking at high schools across the country. One student described the scene at his school in a progressive middle class suburb of Chicago when he was joined by World Can’t Wait student organizers after school:

“As students poured out of the front door at 3:25pm, they were greeted by calls over a bull horn and a mass of flyers. In only a few minutes the entire crowd had become polarized, most cheering on the WCW, a few yelling at them. Friends took different sides of the debate; exposing the underlying outrage and worry over this regime. Students poured over the organizers; all wanting a flyer and to sign up. The one problem that we then faced was the security at my school. They falsely stated that the public school was private property and that they could not be there. Most of the crowd was yelling for us to continue, and people continued to sign up and grab flyers. Eventually we were forced by the security and police across the street, but much of the crowd followed. Over the next half an hour or so we continued to sign people up, talk to students, and get out the call. Often we would arrive at a group of students only to find that others had beaten us there and had already gotten around the call. Even with the setback of being kicked off the school in only a few minutes, we received tons of support, got around hundreds of copies of the call, received dozens of signatures, and made a lasting impact on the student body.”

This infectious defiance is beginning to spread. One good example of breaking through boundaries was when some students at Beacon High, a mostly white middle class progressive school in NYC, held an impromptu march to nearby LaGuardia High (a multi-national arts school) and MLK high (which has a mostly Black student population and resembles a prison more than a school). The youth from Beacon got out fliers to and made connections with others. This was a good first step at breaking through these barriers, especially as at Beacon, students are always told to avoid the “dangerous” MLK students, but there’s lots more work to done on this, and what better way to do it than building a youth movement to drive out the Bush regime.
(As a side note here, I was talking with a friend recently, and it hit us that there’s all these high schools across the country named after Martin Luther King, Jr., and all of them are virtually all-Black and receive some of the worst funding and resources for education. Here they are naming these schools “MLK” in an attempt to show “how far we’ve come” in breaking down segregation, yet these same schools are the most stunning examples of segregation and the continued oppression of Black people. People should check out Jonathon Kozol’s new book, Shame of the Nation for a stunning look into just what terrible condition public schools are in for the poor and oppressed nationalities.)

This example of spreading the movement from school to school is one dynamic we need to get going even more. Beyond doing this directly, it’s been striking how quickly word of mouth, fliers, stickers, and “Resist or Die” T-shirts have gotten the word around. We are now hearing about schools we have no direct connection to beginning to organize walk-outs. And we are getting a steady stream of emails from students in random cities and small towns across the country that are organizing for Nov. 2nd.

A Frightening Future

“Bush isn't only waging an illegitimate war, but is UNRAVELING THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS that we won through protest in the 60s and 70s… This country is being led by a few thousand Christian Fascists, and if we do not begin to oppose them RIGHT NOW, then they can be sure that whoever comes after Bush will be worst.”
-student at New Trier High in a Chicago suburb

“Global warming is not something you can easily reverse and undo.”
-student at Berkeley High

As the above comments from high school students suggest, many are confronting the realities around them and not wanting to live in a world like this. These youth were outraged to see people left to die in New Orleans, and the callous and criminal neglect on the part of the Bush regime. They watch as Iraqis are murdered, and threats are made to invade more countries, and their generation is expected to carry out these atrocities. They are lied to and fooled by military recruiters who now attempt to lure them in with video games (if the blatant lies don’t work), and those who aren’t fooled fear a draft. Young women see the right to choose in the crosshairs, and don’t want a fate of forced motherhood. This generation takes a look outside and sees the vast and widening disparity between those people at the top of the food chain and those cast off as worthless, who receive no access to resources, education, healthcare, or jobs. And the implications of this deadly path for the future are horrific.

To anyone who cares about the planet and its people, all this is unacceptable. And for these youth, who are looking at all this with fresh eyes, and have not yet completed the conditioning process for acceptance and aquiecence, the only thing that makes sense is to resist all this. This stand outs in contrast to the many rationalizations out there – “now that he got elected, we just have to deal with it” or “it’s not really that bad” or “this is just the way the world is” – rationalizations that only serve to accept this nightmare.

The “Resist or Die” slogan has resonated with this generation, because this is the reality they are confronting.

Getting Ready for Nov. 2nd

While there is a lot of enthusiasm for Nov. 2nd, it is also the case that student walk-outs won’t happen without a lot of struggle. Youth who are organizing in the high schools describe how there is a constant battle against not just apathy but getting youth to take a risk and be part of the resistance. Youth have been bombarded with a constant message that they are worthless, don’t know enough to have an opinion, and can’t effect anything. It’s striking how the very education system, and overall political structures in society actually reinforce this- from the schools that, despite many teacher’s best efforts, don’t teach much, and are now having fundamentalist Christianity shoved into the discourse, to the political processes that keeps people on the sidelines as bystanders. In contrast to this, when youth take it upon themselves to learn the truth about the world and step out of the “political process” and act with defiance and determination, this has a big effect on the rest of society.

The high school students who are stepping forward in the movement to drive out the Bush regime not only have a developing understanding of what are the problems humanity faces and how to solve them, but are hungry to understand this more fully. These youth are not settling for facile answers or just raw anger at how the world is, but are finding the ways to articulate their righteous anger and win over more.

One thing everyone I interviewed loved about this movement is that it invites their active and thoughtful participation, and that the leaders and organizers foster this dynamic. This is not a movement of spectators or cheerleaders, but one that depends on and is built by those who step forward to take responsibility for the future, and there is no age requirement.

Building a movement like this is part of rising to the challenges before us. There is already beginning to be debate in the high schools about whether or not to walk-out on Nov. 2nd, what the ramifications will be, and whether it is worth it. Those who are stepping forward first have a big responsibility to engage this debate and win over the millions who can make history. Through our actions and our words, we need to be setting a standard to follow and continually challenging those who are still on the fence. And there must be a huge buzz about Nov. 2nd and big momentum building up to the day that is the beginning of the end of the Bush regime. And while the youth are stepping to the forefront of this movement, their parents, teachers, and others need to step forward in support and as part of this movement, not allowing the most defiant to be isolated and crushed by intimidation, police batons, or punishment.

All the risks youth are taking to drive out this regime are well worth it, and stand out in sharp contrast to the ethos promoted in this society: to concern yourself solely with your own future (in some “me-first” and careerist way). These youth are developing a whole new model for how to live your life, and this is something everyone, including all those who are jaded or cynical about the prospects for resistance, should take inspiration from.

Finally, on thing that struck me in interviewing youth for this article is that when I asked “what kind of world do you want to live?”, this was the first time they had ever been asked this. So it took a second to put their thoughts together, but when they did, they had quite a clear view of many of the heavy burdens on people that could be easily solved in a different society. And while it’s clear that growing up in this society has put blinders on people’s ability to envision a better future, being part of this resistance and beginning to ask these questions is enabling these youth to dream about how the world should be, and what it will take to get there.

A shout-out to everyone who I interviewed for this article, and to all the youth who “can’t just be a bystander.” If you’re organizing a walk-out at your school Nov. 2nd, or are trying to figure out how to, email youth_students@worldcantwait.org

How to Organize Your High School

If you're wondering how to organizer your high school, check out the following is a report from New Trier High School in the northern suburbs of Chicago: I'm a Junior in high school in Chicago and originally became involved in the World Can't Wait movement over the summer. I had felt the need for a movement like this, and was very enthusiastic and supportive from the beginning. I wanted to organize a walkout at my high school, but initially people were skeptical both of the feasibility of such an action and of the reasons behind it. Over the months since then I have made much headway into addressing both issues, and I hope that my experiences can help assist other students in organizing high schools and colleges around the country.

The first important issue which I had to address were the reasons why people should join this movement. Initial questions I had, and I am sure that we have all heard these, were things such as 'what will walking out actually accomplish', 'why can't we just work through the current system', and 'won't we get in trouble for walking out?'. Addressing the first two questions first, I have found that the best thing to do is to pitch the WCW in different ways to different people. Now you may be asking, 'isn't that dishonest and misleading?', but the fact of the matter is that it is not. The World Cant Wait has NO set ideology or political point of view. It is merely the vehicle for which those outraged with the regime can make a difference; and only time will tell where these people will lead this movement and American Society and where the movement will stop. For the more politically minded and activist of my peers I pointed out that a social movement such as the WCW is what is needed to make this society conscious. It is only through such a body, one not attributed to a certain philosophy or political party but to a broader societal goal, that the American people can begin to create a better world.

For people who may be more moderate, or who would wish to ultimately stay within the system I point out that such a movement could just as likely be used towards creating a better Democratic Party. The current party is on a move to the right, I point out, not confronting the Bush agenda and completely removed from the party's base. Yet when you try to change the party, and yet still vote for the party regardless, there is NO incentive for the party to change its agenda nor will it do so. The only way that the Democratic Party can be pulled back to the left, I point out, is by a movement by the people IN society which the Democrats then come crawling back to in order to recapture votes. Certain other concerns with what walking out actually accomplishes are often raised. One is that people often point out that this has never happened before, or that protests in the 60s and 70s did not end the Vietnam war. I point out to people, however, that Bush isn't only waging and illegitimate war, but is UNRAVELING THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS that we won through protest in the 60s and 70s. Therefore, in order to protect out society, along with out rights, we must start a new movement in society to defend ourselves. When people prod further and question whether we can really drive out Bush in the next 3 and a half years I am straight up with them. I tell them that yes, nothing like this has ever been done in America before. However, this is not just about Bush. This country is being led by a few thousand Christian Fascists, and if we do not begin to oppose them RIGHT NOW, then they can be sure that whoever comes after Bush will be worst. Maybe we can drive out the Christian Fascists while their puppet in the office is still Bush, and maybe it will take a little longer than that, but regardless the WCW is starting the opposition now to begin a movement which will not end until these Fascists are out of power and in the meantime will stand up for our rights and prevent more unjust wars. Even after making all of these point, even many progressive students have one lingering concern, "won't we get in trouble for this?". The short answer to this is no. If you go about organizing for Nov 2 the right way and have at least a decent amount of people walking out, at MOST only the ring leaders will have consequences. The school WILL insist that it will not back down on punishment until the last minute, but do you really think that they will suspend hundreds or thousands of students? Yet, to better assure that people at your school are confident in the fact that they will not be punished for standing up for the truth and for their freedoms, there are ways to gain the upper hand when dealing with administration. At my school we are going about doing this by holding a press conference during the Saturation Week. Now, I can't speak for every school, but I know that the one thing that my school hates more than anything is bad press. By holding a press conference during school (and at this conference telling the media why you are walking out, what you are doing then, about the WCW, calling out to others to join you, etc...) you are assuring that the media is watching your school BEFORE the walk out. This will assure that any school crack-down will look extremely bad, and that the school will do all it can to avoid it. I have not actually held this press conference yet, but I will provide tips on organizing one and on how this goes in the coming weeks. You can have the right answers to any question, but the walkout isn't going to happen in your school if people do not know about it. With the exception of a few people that I had began telling about the World Cant Wait over the summer, the campaign in my school began in Mid-September. On a Tuesday, after school, I had invited two local Youth Organizers for the WCW to create a scene at my school. As students poured out of the front door at 3:25, they were greeted by calls over a bull horn and a mass of flyers. In only a few minutes the entire crowd had become polarized, most cheering on the WCW, a few yelling at them. Friends took different sides of the debate; exposing the underlying outrage and worry over this regime. Students poured over the organizers; all wanting a flyer and to sign up. The one problem that we then faced was the security at my school. Now, at most schools the security is not this bad so it should not be an issue, but here they approached the organizers and told them to leave. They falsely stated that the public school was private property and that they could not be there. Most of the crowd was yelling for us to continue, and people continued to sign up and grab flyers. Eventually we were forced by the security and police across the street, but much of the crowd followed. Over the next half an hour or so we continued to sign people up, talk to students, and get out the call. Often we would arrive at a group of students only to find that others had beaten us there and had already gotten around the call. Even with the setback of being kicked off the school in only a few minutes, we received tons of support, got around hundreds of copies of the call, received dozens of signatures, and made a lasting impact on the student body. If you are worried about your school cracking down in similar way, try using ONLY students of that school but with a similar methods. They cant kick you off of your own school grounds, though they may be able to prevent you from using an electronic bull horn. An ideal setup would involve a team of around four people; on passing out the call, one signing students up, one getting out shirts, stickers, etc, and one speaking. In the future at my school, we will continue to use this technique, but now with only students of the school doing the organizing and speaking. Another very effective method of making people aware of the World Cant Wait is to simply place stickers and/ or flyers everywhere. I personally placed dozens upon dozens of WCW stickers around my school and community, and others that I sold found their way on walls and such as well. Combining this with a stapling the call to telephone polls and such, the WCW becomes something that people cant escape. Everywhere they go it is visible and is sparking discussion and interest in the movement. Another effective method that I have found is to set up a World Cant Wait booth during lunch periods. We did this twice so far in my school; using a table and a large paint-on-canvas banner draped over it to attract peoples attention. At the table we offered the call, signed people up, and sold buttons, stickers, and shirts. In doing this two times we received dozens of contacts and got out hundreds of flyers. As an added bonus to such a tactic, if you make a banner to use at your table you could display it in other places for future campaigns. The last tip I have for organizing in schools is to simply be promoting the World Cant Wait on a small scale. Where ever I go I always have a supply of the call with me, as well as at least a few buttons and stickers to sell. You will probably also want to make your own customized call: tweaking information to what you feel would be the most effective at your school and providing local place and time info. Keep debate about the movement alive in your school, and talk to people about it whenever possible. You will not have to do these things alone, in short time many others will step up as organizers to assist you. But no one is going to get this started for you. It is our responsibility as students and young people to fight for our freedoms and to create the type of world that we want to live in! I hope that this information helps someone, and I will continue to post updates as this progress at my school.