National Conference Call to Build for Fall Actions - May 30th, 8PM eastern time

Public Education is under attack. On March 4th thousands of students, teachers, faculty, staff and workers participated in hundreds of actions in 32 different states.  The actions in March were a huge success, but the struggle continues. As the cuts continue to roll in, students across the country continue the struggle. In New Jersey, 19 000 students walked out of school to fight back against the cuts. In Puerto Rico, University of Puerto Rico students have been on strike for over a month in resistance to cuts there. All across the country the struggle is growing. As the struggle grows, it becomes more important to grow a national conversation over the future of the movement. The summer gives us a great opportunity to build and organize to be prepared for the fall. Activists in California have suggested building for actions in October, specifically around the 7th. Participate in the National Conference Call organized by March 4th participants to build the struggle to defend education and fight back against the cuts.

FB EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128870970460352

Call in Number: (218) 339 4300
Access Number: 697890

Decision to "restrict access" heavy-handed and repressive

The decision to close the University of Toronto St. George campus during the G20 summit - the week of June 21-27 - contradicts the purpose of the university, reinforces harmful stereotypes of protesters, legitimizes police repression and violence, and does not reflect the wishes of students, staff and faculty.
Universities are sites for critical engagement and debate. The University of Toronto, as a place of higher learning, should be encouraging dialogue and engagement on the role of the G8/G20 and the future of our planet. Instead, administrators are prohibiting access to the campus, stifling dialogue and fostering a climate of fear.

According to a May 21st memo, the campus closure is necessary because of the "designated protest zone" at Queen's Park. Playing into media hype, University administrators have chosen to focus on a crude "protesters vs. police" characterization of anti-G20 efforts, and entirely sidestep the issues that compel people to oppose the G20 and its policies. In so doing, they reinforce cynical stereotypes of protesters and legitimize police violence.

MAYAGÜEZ, Puerto Rico – (The following is in Spanish and English.)
La UPR está de luto - Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, 26 de mayo de 2010
Hoy el RUM y sus estudiantes están de - Today, RUM and its students are in mourning

A través de los distintos medios de comunicación masiva, hemos recibido la terrible noticia del fallecimiento de nuestra compañera Natalia Sánchez López, de 21 años de edad. Las razones de su fallecimiento aun son desconocidas. De igual manera se desconoce si la joven tenía algún padecimiento previo que fuera el causante de tan nefasto final.

We have received the terrible news from the media about the death of our comrade, Natalia Sánchez López, 21. The cause of death is still unknown. It is also unknown if she suffered from any condition that might have precipitated her most unfortunate end.

Colegiales en Acción y los estudiantes de la huelga expresamos nuestro más sentido pésame a su familia y amigos. Les queremos extender nuestras sinceras condolencias en este momento tan difícil que atraviesan.