by Michael Kane
12-20-20
Yesterday 100 teachers, parents, students, business owners and citizens protested in front of the UFT Office building in Staten Island, NY. We expected hundreds more, but having to cancel our original Wednesday date due to the snow storm, as well as having it on the Saturday before Christmas limited attendance. New York Teachers For Choice members were there and some spoke at the rally, representing us well!
I want to make a comment about politics.
NY Teachers For Choice does not endorse every opinion or political position of everyone who spoke at the protest yesterday. However I made my political position on vaccine mandates for educators clear back on September 10th at this blog, when I wrote the following:
If, at any point, the UFT makes any indication that they will be working to compel, mandate or require its members to be vaccinated to work as an NYC Teacher, I will have no choice but to break ranks with my Union publicly, standing in opposition alongside those who will stand with me. We all have issues that resonate deep within our souls, and this is one such issue for me.
I stand by that to this day!
Any Democrat who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
Any Republican who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
Any Libertarian who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
Any Green who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
Any Independent who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
Any parent who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
Any grandma who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
Any earthling who opposes vaccine mandates for educators; I stand with you!
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The NY Post covered the protest – read their reporting here: .https://nypost.com/2020/12/19/si-teachers-parents-protest-mandatory-covid-19-vaccines/
Here is a video of the entire protest:
Or you can see the same video on periscope: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1nAJELobgmaGL?t=2066
And here is a short speech I wrote for the protest which was delivered excellently by our very own Caterina:
Thank you all so much for being here to support teachers, parents and students of New York City. On Monday New York Teachers for Choice sued the New York City Department of Education over privacy rights violations from in-school COVID testing, we assisted a parent lawsuit filed on Wednesday suing the NYC DOE to stop forced in-school COVID testing, and we helped organize this protest at the UFT office this weekend.
It’s been a busy week!
The New York City Department of Education knows who we are and what we are doing. The UFT knows who we are and what we are doing. And trust me when I tell you, they are scared of our growing political power.
NO FORCED COVID VACCINES FOR TEACHERS OR STUDENTS!
NO FORCED FLU SHOTS FOR TEACHERS OR STUDENTS!
NO FORCED MEDICAL MANDATES!
Stay tuned to NYTeachersForChoice.org for updates: we have only just begun!
Teachers For Choice 