Bay-Area Artists, Entertainers Declare:“I stand with Oakland Teachers” in Explainer VideoNarrated by Poet, Actor and Filmmaker Rafael Casas

OAKLAND – Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, who plays for the Golden State Warriors in Oakland’s Oracle Arena, is among an all-star line-up of Bay Area actors, musicians and entertainers who appear in a new video supporting striking Oakland teachers.

“What Teachers Need to Succeed” is available on YouTube

Actor, poet and filmmaker Rafael Casas, an Oakland native, explains to viewers that members of the Oakland Education Association are on strike for “four simple things:” a livable wage, smaller classes, more support staff for students, and an “end to the district’s plan to close 24 of its 86 schools in predominantly black and Latinx neighborhoods.”

The school closing plan, says Casas is “a complete and outright assault on Oakland families – and above all else, they don’t even have to do it!”

Casas co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the acclaimed 2018 film Blindspotting, which is set on the streets of Oakland. His Blindspotting co-writer, co-producer and co-star, Daveed Diggs – also an Oakland native and a member of the original Broadway cast of Hamilton – is also featured in the new video supporting Oakland teachers.

Curry, Casas and Diggs are joined by a star-studded lineup of Bay Area cultural luminaries who declare “I Stand with Oakland Teachers.” Among those appearing in the video: musician Rafael Sadiq; comedian W. Kamau Bell; actor Mahershala Ali; poet, screenwriter and playwright Chinaka Hodge; rap music pioneer and preacher M.C. Hammer; singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito; Blindspotting stars Jasmine Cephas Jones, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Janina Gavankar; radio personalities Sana G, DC is Chillin, G Biz and Chuy Gomez; and poet and filmmaker Boots Riley.“

It’s an honor to have Steph Curry and so many others on our team” said Keith Brown, president of the Oakland Education Association. “It means a lot to our members that high-achieving artists and entertainers who have lived and worked in our community – several of whom attended Oakland public schools — understand why we’re on strike.”

“We’re fighting for the soul of public education,” said Brown. “It’s inspiring to see and hear those who represent the soul of our community speak out on behalf of Oakland teachers, students and families.”

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The Oakland Education Association represents 3,000 OUSD educators, including teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, therapists, substitutes, and early childhood and adult teachers. OEA is affiliated with the 325,000-member California Teachers Association and the 3 million-member National Education Association. Find out more at Oakland Education Association and on Twitter: @oaklandea, #Unite4OaklandKids, #WeAreOEA, #RedForEd, #WeAreCTAOEA on Facebook