MEDIA ADVISORY UPDATE: 'Hands Off!' March at San Diego Civic Center, April 5 Noon - Protesters to March Demanding Protection of Rights and Services

SAN DIEGO, CA — Community members will gather at the San Diego Civic Center Plaza for a “Hands Off!” march on April 5 to protest DOGE and the Trump administration’s attack on programs and services used by San Diego residents. The local march will coincide with a nationwide day of demonstrations expected to be attended by hundreds of thousands…

Organizers describe the event as a collective response to policies impacting our community. “San Diegans who are veterans, who are postal workers and teachers, who rely on Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare, and who are horrified at the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover of our government are coming together to protest the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rights and services they depend upon, many of them for survival” said Angela Benson, a member of the organizing coalition.

Event Details:

• What: Over 10,000 San Diegans expected to peacefully demand "HANDS OFF!" their rights and services in one of over 1,000 HANDS OFF! events scheduled nationwide on April 5

• Who: Coalition of San Diego Pro-Democracy Groups

• When: Saturday, April 5, noon, 1 mile march to leave approximately 12:15 PM

• Where: March starts at Civic Center Plaza Fountain by 1200 Third St., ends at Hall of Justice at 330 W Broadway

• Transportation: Participants are encouraged to take public transit to the event

Planning group:

• Change Begins With ME

• CBFD Indivisible

• Indivisible49

• Indivisible North San Diego County

• Democratic Club of Carlsbad and Oceanside

• Encinitas and North Coast Democratic Club

• SanDiego350

• Swing Left/Take Action San Diego

• Activist San Diego

• 50501 San Diego

Media Opportunities:

• The following representatives will be available day-of the march for interviews. If interested, please coordinate with Richard (770-653-6138) prior to the event, and plan to arrive at the location marked below by 11:30 AM Pacific

• Representatives

• Sara Jacobs - House of Representatives, CA-51 district

• Scott Peters - House of Representatives, CA-50 district

• Chris Ward - California State Assemblymember, 78 district

• Stephen Whitburn - San Diego Councilmember

• Reverend Madison Shockley II - Pilgrim United Church of Christ

• Yusef Miller - Executive Director of North County Equity & Justice Coalition

• Brigette Browning - Executive Secretary San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and President, Unite Here!

• Crystal Irving - President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

• Andy Kopp - Veteran

• Patrick Saunders - Veteran

• Phil Petrie - SanDiego350, Climate Activist

• Recommended Schedule

• 11:30 AM - 11:40 AM: Representative introductions - Group/cause they’re representing, why they’re marching

• 11:40 AM - 12:05 PM: Representatives break off, available for interview by Press

• 12:05 PM - 12:15 PM: Representatives move to beginning of march

• 12:15 PM: March begins

• 12:15 PM - 2:00 PM: March to Hall of Justice

• 2:00 PM: March ends at Hall of Justice, participants may disperse or continue to federal plaza

Information about "Hands Off Our Schools" rally in San Diego, April 8th, 8am-noon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Activist San Diego, in collaboration with 50501 San Diego, will host a grassroots rally Tuesday, April 8, protesting the elimination of the Department of Education and the billions of dollars in lost funding that will negatively impact our parents, teachers, and educators.

The event coincides with Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon's appearance at the ASU + GSV Summit at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Event Details:

• What: San Diego parents, educators, and concerned citizens protesting attacks on the Department of Education and cuts to school funding
• Who: San Diego community members with organizing support from Activist San Diego and 50501 San Diego
• When: Tuesday, April 8th, 8 a.m. to noon PDT
• Where: Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place, San Diego
• Why: Voice community concerns about student rights and educational funding
• Registration: Advanced registration is strongly encouraged at https://www.mobilize.us/dashboard/indivisible/event/770940
• Transportation: Participants are encouraged to take public transit to the event
  

The "Hands Off Our Schools!" rally aims to challenge current educational policy directions and amplify community voices. Laurie, a mother of two special needs students describes her reason for speaking out.

"As a mother of two vibrant, neurodivergent daughters, my parenting journey is unique. I've had to navigate private insurance, MediCal, Regional Center supports, Early Start programs, developmental therapy networks, and our public school system.

This work is challenging, but it's called me to action—especially when our support systems are threatened. Public schools are a safe haven for families like mine. I worry there may not be a place where my girls will be accepted, supported and celebrated. That's why I stand against efforts to dismantle the Department of Education."

Media Opportunities

Speakers will be available for interviews during the event, please contact Coleen Geraghty below if you are interested in an interview. The complete speaker lineup is being finalized, additional updates will be sent as more information becomes available.

Media Contact: 
Coleen Geraghty
coleengeraghty@gmail.com
619-709-4188

March Update on Student Debt (Debt Collective)

The federal government is a sh*t show right now. From ICE abductions of pro-Palestine college students to proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicaid, the Trump administration is wreaking havoc on all of our communities.

We want to take a moment and specifically talk about student debt and higher education — work that we’ve been doing for a while now. Here’s some of what we know, what we think, and what we should do:

In recent days, the Trump administration issued an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Legally, this cannot be done without Congress, but in practice, this means most of the staff was simply fired. We talked a little bit about what that means for student debtors in this Twitter thread. In short, this makes the student debt crisis much worse.

Shortly after that, Trump ordered the entire federal student debt portfolio — all $1.7 trillion — to be moved from the Department of Education to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The Small Business Administration is another agency within the federal government. That means our collective creditor would still be the federal government. But will this move actually happen? Will our federal student loans somehow end up privatized? There is a LOT up in the air right now, and the short answer is we don’t know exactly what will happen, but we as debtors should remain nimble so we can exercise our collective power when we need to. Moving our student debt from the Department of Education to the SBA would be 1) illegal 2) administratively and practically difficult 3) lead to possible errors with your account.

If you haven’t already, we still highly recommend going to studentaid.gov and finding your loan details and downloading and/or screenshotting your history.

The traditional infrastructure we have long suggested debtors utilize to solve problems with their student debt — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the FSA ombudsman team, etc — have either been undermined or outright destroyed. This means there are fewer and fewer ways for us, student debtors, to get answers to problems with our student debt accounts. But we shouldn’t let Congress off the hook — we should make student loans Congress’ problem. They’re elected to serve us and it’s their job to attend to your needs.

Our friends at Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) have put together a helpful tool to open a case at your member of Congress’s office.

Lastly, we want to talk about what we mean when we say Free College. Student debt has ruined lives, and will continue to as long as it exists. We shouldn’t have to borrow to pay for college — in fact, we shouldn’t have to pay at all. It should be free. And that’s what we’re fighting for. But our vision for College For All doesn’t stop at tuition-free — it means ICE and cops off campus; it means paying workers, faculty and staff a living wage; it means standing up for free speech; it means ending domestic and gender based violence on campus; and it means universities that function as laboratories for democracy and learning, not as laboratories for landlords and imperialism.

On April 17th, Debt Collective is co-sponsoring the National Higher Education Day of Action to demand our vision of College For All and oppose the hell the Trump administration is causing right now. Find an event near you HERE to participate — or start an event on your own!

And THIS SATURDAY – April 5th –we’re taking to the streets with hundreds of thousands of people across the country to tell Trump and Musk “Hands Off Our Democracy!” They’re stripping America for parts, and it's up to us to put an end to their brazen power grab. This will be one of the largest mass mobilizations in recent history — and we need you in the streets with us. There are hundreds of actions planned, find one to join near you HERE.

Whatever happens in the future, we will be more likely to win if we gird ourselves with each other’s stories and experiences so we can fight together. This is why we built a debtors’ union — the only virtual factory floor for debtors. Debt acts as a discipline and keeps people from joining the struggle for things we care about — but we can increase our numbers and build power by canceling unjust debts. We all share the same creditor and we need to stay connected to one another. Forward this email to a friend or family member and tell them to join the union and our email list so we can stay connected.

In Solidarity,

Debt Collective

Rep. Al Green (D-TX) Speaks After Being Censured (C-Span)

What Would Jesus Buy? (Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir)

 

South Korean Opposition Protest Outside Parliament After Martial Law (CNBC)

 

Defending DEI Programming at the University of Michigan

More than 500 people have signed a petition in favor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming that has been part of the University of Michigan for years, and a rally was held yesterday in support of the programs. 

According to the petition:

It has been confirmed by multiple sources that the Regents met earlier this month in a private meeting with a small subgroup of central leadership members, and among the topics discussed was the future of DEI programming at UM, including possibly defunding DEI in the next fiscal year. Our understanding is that the Regents may announce or vote to implement the plan as early as December 5th (their next scheduled meeting), before the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Diversity, equity, and inclusivity are imperative to address systemic and structural inequities. They are also stated core values of the University of Michigan. We must remind the Regents that changes to DEI are not in their mandate, which is purely financial oversight, and we must remind them of the importance of shielding our ethical commitments from political pressure.

Tens Of Thousands Of Students Went Cycling At Night (CNN)

Under the new Trump presidency, can US student protestors learn from Chinese students?

Related links:

Student Protests in the Higher Education Inquirer

Methods of Student Nonviolent Resistance

The "Education Not Agitation" Act Seeks Crackdown on Campus Protestors

Republican Greg Murphy (MD) has introduced legislation in Congress to crack down on American college campuses, and to support the restriction of freedom of assembly and other Constitutional rights. The legislation is titled the Education Not Agitation Act.  

This legislation disqualifies individuals who are convicted of certain criminal offenses from receiving education related tax benefits including the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit, and the deduction on student loan interest. 

Specifically, if an individual is convicted of unlawful assembly, rioting, trespassing, vandalism, battery, or battery on a law enforcement officer while conducting a protest at an institute of higher education, they will be disqualified from receiving these tax benefits. 

Unlawful assembly is the legal term to describe a group of people with the mutual intent of deliberate disturbance of the peace. Trespassing is knowingly entering another owners' property or land without permission. Vandalism is the intentional destruction or defacement of another person's property. These acts, however, are subject to the varying opinions of law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and juries.

The threat of arrest and use of force, detention, school suspensions, deportations, and other police and administrative powers may be enough to prevent peaceful protests or reduce the power of the protestors. Some universities and state governments have already acted to reduce and restrict freedom of speech and assembly on campus.

Legislation like the Education Not Agitation Act further sanctions those who may have valid reasons for resistance on existential matters like war and peace, genocide, and catastrophic climate change. History (hopefully) will record that.  

Related links:

 
What caused 70 US universities to arrest protesting students while many more did not?  

Campus Protests, Campus Safety, and the Student Imagination 

Democratic Protests on Campus: Modeling the Better World We Seek (Annelise Orleck)

Methods of Student Nonviolent Resistance

Wikipedia Community Documents Pro-Palestinian Protests on University and College Campuses

One Fascism or Two?: The Reemergence of "Fascism(s)" in US Higher Education

A People's History of Higher Education in the US

How Would Trump's Plans for Mass Deportations Affect US Higher Education?

Methods of Student Nonviolent Resistance

Resistance has been an essential part of democracy. And the Higher Education Inquirer has reported on a number of nonviolent actions taken by college students and workers across the US. We have also recognized the brutal physical and economic violence that has been a part of US history and social structure and a major contributor to the ineffective counter-violence that has sometimes resulted. 

According to the Albert Einstein Institution, "far too often people struggling for democratic rights and justice are not aware of the full range of methods of nonviolent action. Wise strategy, attention to the dynamics of nonviolent struggle, and careful selection of methods can increase a group’s chances of success." 

Nonviolent strategies include three broad categories: (1) nonviolent protest and persuasion, (2) noncooperation (social, economic, and political), and (3) nonviolent intervention. 

A list of 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action is posted on the Brandeis University website. The list is based on Gene Sharp's Methods of Nonviolent Action (1973), but this document is not exhaustive.  Strategies and tactics may need to change with what works in these times: with new technology and greater understanding about how humans think and behave.

 

Historical Examples

Nonviolent protests for justice and democracy and against white supremacy occurred at Shaw University (1919), Fisk (1924-25), Howard (1925), and Hampton Institute (1925-27).  

In the early 1940s, James Farmer, a Howard Divinity School graduate, with students from the University of Chicago established the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), an interracial group focused on nonviolent direct action for civil rights. 

The 1960s were recognized for student activism, including the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), at Shaw University. This organization, and people like Ella Baker, were an essential part of the civil rights movement. 

In the 1970s and 1980s, divestment campaigns were an important part of the campaign against South African apartheid. Protesting for divestment against private prisons has also occurred on US campuses.  

Most recently, there were a number of campus occupations to protest the destruction of Gaza and the mass killing of civilians. And protests about climate change have been visible on a number of campuses for years. In these cases, we can expect more serious conflict to occur if these issues are not sufficiently addressed. 

As always, we appreciate your comments and constructive criticism.  

Related links: 

Black Study, Black Struggle (Robin D.G. Kelley, Boston Review)

A People's History of Higher Education in the US? 

Student Activism 

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Modeling civil unrest in the United States: some historical cases (Bryan Alexander)

One Fascism or Two?: The Reemergence of "Fascism(s)" in US Higher Education

US Higher Education and the Intellectualization of White Supremacy

Democratic Protests on Campus: Modeling the Better World We Seek (Annelise Orleck)

HurricaneTWOU.com: Digital Protest Exposes Syracuse, USC, Pepperdine, and University of North Carolina in 2U edX Edugrift

Wikipedia Community Documents Pro-Palestinian Protests on University and College Campuses

Rutgers University Workers Waging Historic Strike For Economic Justice (Hank Kalet)

University of California Academic Workers Strike For Economic Justice (November 14 to December 23, 2022)

Terri Givens and “Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridge Racial Divides”

I Went on Strike to Cancel My Student Debt and Won. Every Debtor Deserves the Same. (Ann Bowers)

DEBT STRIKE! (Debt Collective)