Last night, the parents of Newark spoke out in unison against the bullying tactics of the Christie administration.
As veteran journalist Bob Braun reported, state-appointed superintendent Cami Anderson stormed out of the meeting after a parent accused her of not caring as much about Newark’s children as she does about her own.
The parents of Newark are fighting together against not only state control of their district, which has disempowered them, but against Anderson’s plan to close many public schools and turn them over to charter operators.
The school board president has been heroic in standing up to the high-handed tactics of the Christie administration, which assumed it could ignore the parents of Newark.
Board president Antoinette Baskerville Richardson, sitting inches away next to the superintendent, then described Anderson’s plan as “monumentally destabilizing” and “destructive” and criticized her for suppressing “freedom of speech.”
Braun wrote:
“In a clear reference to the mounting revelations of scandals related to political retribution surrounding Christie, Baskerville-Richardson said, “It is clear the attitudes and actions of Cami Anderson reflect the attitudes and actions of Gov. Christie.”
No way. No how. The parents of Newark are mobilized and united.
I am proud to add them to the honor roll for courage against overwhelming odds.
Stand with Newark.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This just makes my morning! I am happy that people are standing up to bullying. What a great example to set for their children,also.
Yes, dolphin, and apparently the children are also setting a great example. Has anybody found any video of the students who spoke at the meeting?
Ras Baraka’s comments:
In every school meeting, in every town and city, follow the Newark example: confront the pseudo leadership with simple truth.
Good for you and good luck Newark parents! Keep informing the public nation wide so that all voters continue to be well aware of Chris Christie’s true color.
Darn those special interests!
The Newark parents are as mad as hell and aren’t going to take it any more. They have reached their limit and are tired of being stepped upon. Five principals suspended (though 3 have been reinstated and 2 assigned to the central office) basically for speaking their minds, an office worker was suspended for speaking her mind, while she was in the lavatory. In addition, the Newark public schools were in session last Wednesday when there was a snow emergency; the charter schools were closed, all the other schools in surrounding communities were closed but Newark PUBLIC SCHOOLS were kept open even though the snow and ice had not ye been cleared. Most of the kids didn’t show up for school but most of the school and staff did show up. The parents have had enough and Cami Anderson must go.
GO NEWARK, may we all be as steadfast and vigilant in our fight against big-education-biz!
Hail to the mad-as-hell parents of Newark! Way to go.
Randi Weingarten’s comments. Link by way of Alexander Russo’s pro-corporate blog, for .whatever reason, so the other side knows what she’s saying. I think if she’s trying to burn her bridges to them, and this might be the ticket.
I am so proud of these parents. Don’t let nobody turn you ’round!! Keep standing up. Keep fighting. The day of Cami Anderson has ended, and she is the only one who hasn’t gotten the memo.
~ Sandra L. West, Newark resident
More coverage of the meeting from New Jersey:
http://www.politickernj.com/71155/cami-conundrum-how-christies-newark-schools-appointee-could-be-shaping-newark-mayoral-race
The parents of Newark and the community are “sick and tired of being sick and tired” and will not be bullied by the Christie administration or his pawn, Cami Anderson! They must be reminded and shown their positions exist because of the people; 21st slavery will not be accepted for our children or community ever!