teresa bowman manheim township school district

In early May of 1963, thousands of schoolchildren left their classrooms and headed to downtown Birmingham, Ala., to protest segregation. When their peaceful actions were met with extreme violence and police brutality, students and youth activists persisted. Through their solidarity and persistence, they were able to challenge and overturn nearly a century of Jim Crow laws that forced Black men, women and children to live as second-class citizens. Students and young people throughout the South stood together to wield the weapon of nonviolence and civil disobedience. used the lessons of Gandhi to power the American civil rights movement of the 1960s. “Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong.” These words by Mahatma Gandhi are the foundation of nonviolent resistance. You have responded, peacefully and nonviolently, throughout the nation. We also recognize the deep frustration and anger that people feel-both young and old-as a new generation of young African Americans watch the violence of modern-day lynchings and brutality by police. Now students and young people are raising their voices in nationwide protests to demand an end to police brutality and for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer.Īs America’s public school teachers and school staff, we see you, we hear you and we stand with you. Sixty years ago, the students who sat down at a lunch counter in a North Carolina five-and-dime store galvanized a national movement. Students have led some of the most powerful and effective movements for social change. To lead.Īnd, often, our students teach us. We nurture and support our students to help them build relationships and resilience.

We teach to prepare our young people for their future-hopefully, for a better future. AFT resources for organizing and back to school programs.What Kids, Teachers and Communities Need.Safe and welcoming public schools for all.DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).Standing united to protect immigrant rights.Standing in Solidarity with Our AAPI Community.Real Solutions for Kids and Communities.Paraprofessionals & school-related personnel.

Teresa bowman manheim township school district