MAY 17 was a historic day for our union, as more than 15,000 educators, parents, students and community allies turned out at five simultaneous rallies and marches across the Golden State to demand protection for public schools, students and communities under threat by the Trump Administration and Republican-controlled Congress.

CTA President David Goldberg speaks at the San Diego rally.

In Hanford, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento, CTA educators and supporters united their voices to defend about $16 billion in federal funding — money for school-based health services, special education services for students with disabilities and meals for hungry students. The rallies received widespread coverage in local and national media, including being highlighted on Rachel Maddow’s roundup of protests occurring nationwide.

CTA President David Goldberg addressed thousands of people gathered in San Diego before a march through Balboa Park.

“We call on the Trump Administration to stop threatening cuts to our schools and communities. We call on members of Congress to stand up against these threats and do their jobs — stand with our students and our communities,” Goldberg said. “Our students rely on school meals, special education services and other supports funded by federal dollars.”

The massive LA rally was held outside of SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne.

In Los Angeles, thousands of educators rallied outside of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, spotlighting Musk’s dysfunctional and chaotic campaign to attack public services, which has put billions of Californians’ tax dollars on the line. Local high school student and Students Deserve activist Mariyah Williams shared with the crowd:

“When billionaires like Trump and Elon Musk threaten to strip $1.2 billion from our schools, that’s not just a number. That’s our school lunches. That’s special education. That’s Title I funding that supports students in communities like mine,” said Williams. “These are survival funds for LAUSD’s most vulnerable kids. We’re not going to let them take that away.”

In Hanford, in the heart of the Central Valley, educators and allies marched to the office of Rep. David Valadao, one of nine California Republican members of Congress who voted for a budget with massive funding cuts in May. Legendary labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta joined the rally to underscore the importance of this fight for Central Valley communities.

“Central Valley students have been left behind in the fight for equitable education,” Huerta said. “We are constantly fighting for resources and support for our youth, including calling for transparency in service denials for students with disabilities. Cuts to federal funding will harm our schools and communities, making it even more challenging to achieve successful academic outcomes.

“I’m proud to stand with educators in fighting for strong public schools, protecting our most vulnerable children and families, and defending public education as the cornerstone of our democracy. Our kids and communities are counting on us.”

Rallygoers in Sacramento make their feelings known.

In Sacramento, thousands of educators were joined by parents and students, including Volma Volcy, a parent of a fourth-grade student in the Sacramento area.

“I’ve seen firsthand how invaluable teachers are. I’ve watched as teachers have nurtured and cared for students, often paying out of their own pockets for resources for our kids,” Volcy said. “Schools are already underfunded. We need more resources, not less!”

Like the other rallies, San Francisco’s gathering drew educators and allies from miles away.

Many educators organized carpools and traveled from long distances to join the actions. Celia Medina-Owens traveled to the rally and march in San Francisco from Pittsburg across the Bay, saying she attended to raise her voice for her students.

“Federal cuts will hurt our district’s ability to do things like provide meals to our students, which so many of our students depend on,” said Medina-Owens, who is president of Pittsburg Education Assn. “So many of our students and families are vulnerable at this moment — and we need to fight for the resources they need to survive.”

Dinuba Teachers Association member Nadira Arreola said when public education goes underfunded, the ones who suffer the most are always the ones who need the most.

“These cuts don’t trim fat, they cut into the soul of public education. I’m here to say: our children’s futures aren’t negotiable. We need more funding, not less,” said Arreola. “We need trained staff, smaller class sizes, access to specialists and inclusive programs that lift all students.”

Learn more about each action at cta.org/ffs.

Top photo caption: Labor activist Dolores Huerta, center, stands with the crowd in Hanford to defend and protect students, public schools and communities.