Preventing teachers from marching

TODAY, SATURDAY, May. 16, 2009, the National Association of Educators of North Carolina (NCAE) called on North Carolina teachers to protest in our state capital of Raleigh.

The flier announced:

-- Teachers and other school employees are angry about the 11th hour cut to their salaries.

Members must get in the game to make a difference for themselves in these difficult economic times.

North Carolina must modernize its tax structure in order to maintain services and promote public education.

Public education must be protected in difficult economic times as well as in good.

Participants are asked to bring umbrellas (rain/shine). The umbrellas symbolize that hundreds of NCAE members stood out in the rain on Election Day to support candidates for office who promised strong commitment to public education.

Bring signs

Wear your blue NCAE T-Shirts

I was deeply frustrated and disappointed to arrive in Raleigh for a rally and protest only to be told at the last minute, literally, as I am about to march to the capital with my brothers and sisters in support of our public schools, that I am participating in a motorcade and not a march to the capital.

What was the leadership of NCAE thinking? Why did you block us from marching today?

We went to a great deal of time and trouble, and I took off from my second job, to be there in Raleigh for a march to the capital, not a motorcade. I am outraged that Vice President Rodney Ellis, our leader, would make a decision for members without consulting us, but rather by telling us. Is this what the organization has come to? Fear and fear mongering?

After all the speeches by Wake NCAE President Jennifer Lanane and others, such as the marvelous NCAE president of Forsyth County, to inspire us to march and urging us forward, the announcement was delivered by Government Relations Manager Cecil Banks that we had no parade permit to march.

I very specifically asked if we had permit for our march or if someone dropped the ball. I was told that the NCAE leadership decided against the march.

It is, of course, the leadership's option during democratic discussions of members--but never after you have called the troops from NCAE locals all across North Carolina to march and we are there ready to walk.

We heard speech after speech shouting "Shut her down" and "Save the schools." We ran our cell phone protest, and got to Raleigh--for what? What happened was absolutely shocking in a country that we call a democracy. I cannot believe that a vice president of NCAE would stop a group of NCAE members from freedom of assembly and speech in front of the governor's mansion.

We were trying to unload the bus and protest, express our opinions and we were threatened with arrest.

I am having a second thoughts about being an NCAE member today when the leaders I helped elect cannot support their members, but instead try to intimidate us. I will be writing my protest anywhere and everywhere I can to stand up for teachers. Shame on you, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Banks, for not fighting for us today but for becoming compliant in a moment in time where we need anything but.
Victoria Wreden-Sadeq, Greensboro, N.C.