Worry. Anger. Uncertainty. Those were some of the feelings that current and former Chicago Public Schools students and parents expressed about the district’s plans to close more than 50 schools. We caught up with three of them at this week’s rally against school closings to hear their thoughts.
Benjamin Chacon is in 6th grade at Jean D. Lafayette Elementary School, which is on the list for closure. He hopes that the protest will convince Mayor Rahm Emanuel “to consider our schools to stay open.” Benjamin’s favorite thing about Lafayatte is sports, but after giving it some thought, he says he also likes learning. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Rehab Ghasim graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 2011, but she still has a little sister attending the school. “Closing down the schools could endanger students safety, and that’s the top one priority,” she said, even “before education. I wish the mayor would just listen to us for once.” Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Ismael Enriquez is a proud graduate of Chicago Public Schools, and the parent of a son and daughter whom he expects to be proud graduates as well. “This is affecting our communities, especially Latino and African-American ones,” said Enriquez, who went to David G. Farragut Career Academy High School. “I believe that what we need to do is continue to fight and march and organize and rally against our political officials.” Photo by Jonathan Gibby
closings4: A line of Chicago police officers on horseback patrol Daley Plaza during a rally to protest school closings led by the Chicago Teachers Union on March 27. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Light is reflected from a sign onto a young protester’s face during a rally to protest school closings. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Protesters chant during a rally to protest school closings. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Protesters listen to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. during a rally to protest school closings. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Erica Scott marches through the Loop toward City Hall. “Closing these schools is education apartheid,” Scott said. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Protesters sit down in the southbound lanes of LaSalle Street in a showing of civil disobedience during a rally to protest school. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Protesters sit down in the southbound lanes of LaSalle Street in a showing of civil disobedience during a rally to protest school. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Protesters sit down in the southbound lanes of LaSalle Street in a showing of civil disobedience during a rally to protest school. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
A protester is taken into custody after sitting down in the southbound lanes of LaSalle Street in a showing of civil disobedience during a rally to protest school closings. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Spectators take photos with mobile devices while protesters are taken into custody. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
Jerry Ward chants with other protesters before being taken into custody for sitting down in the southbound lanes of LaSalle Street in a showing of civil disobedience. Photo by Jonathan Gibby
A protester wears several pins criticizing Mayor Rahm Emanuel during a rally to protest school closings. Photo by Jonathan Gibby