The movement #RedforEd has gained a significant amount of support in a couple of days. The wave of education activism does not show signs of ceasing and on the contrary, multiple states like Alabama, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kentucky and even anti-labor states like Arizona have walked off the job to demonstrate their growing concerns in the public education spectrum. The state of California also joined the fight against unfair funding for public schools and to walked out as well.

On January 11, 2019, Anaheim High School’s educators, supporting staff, and students stood in front of the school at 7:15 am to advocate against the low wages, rising healthcare costs, lack of school funding, and the large teacher to student ratios which are occurring at public schools around the nation . Major cities like Los Angeles have failed to obtain adequate funding for their schools in the past 8 years. Amidst the situation in Los Angeles and other states, the Anaheim Union High School district showed their support towards the #redfored movement and advocates against similar problems that have also been occurring in the district as a consequence of the rise of charter schools. Many teachers, students, supporting staff, school district board members, and city leaders were present at the event. Participants held posters that read, “ We support funding the schools our children deserve.”

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Barbara Madeloni, the former President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, made her way down to California from Massachusetts to demonstrate her support towards public education. She stated, “I am here today because I know that the struggle in Los Angeles and the struggle in California is a struggle across the country, to fully fund our public school as to that every student has accesses to a high-quality public education. The fight in L.A. is a fight against privatization. We need to support L.A because when they win, we will all win.”

That morning Michael Matsuda, the superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District demonstrated his support for students in public schools. He commented, “This is about informing the public that we need to have a bigger investment in public schools if we want to retain our status as the 8th largest economy in the world.”  Al Jabbar, member of the Anaheim Union High Board of Trustees in California, added: “At the end of the day, we are all here to support public education so that we can ask our new governor, the legislatures who got elected to make sure education is a priority.” Al Jabbar stressed the importance of having the youth involved in civic engagement and being a part of movements, “ I think young people have a lot of power. People are going to watch and say, ‘Hey, you know what, this is a large group. We need to support.’ They are demanding for their future because all of the kids who are here are fighting so their future is taken care of, it’s not about the past, it’s about the future.”

During the rally, cars that drove down Lincoln St. honked in support of public education. All those present demonstrated genuine care and passion towards providing a safer and better learning environment for the students of today and those of tomorrow. Anaheim High School stood proud as they joined the fight for a healthy public education system.