Our good friend Jaisal Noor had a segment on Democracy Now! last Thursday about the struggle of parents in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago to save Whittier Elementary School, which is being threatened with demolition.
A preliminary deal between the parents, who have occupied the field house for more than a month, and the Chicago Public Schools was struck last Wednesday to bring an end to the dispute. According to the local ABC affiliate, CPS agreed to build a library for the school and to lease the field house to a community group for $1 a year.
Despite this apparent victory, the parents are wisely vowing to continue their sit-in until they have the agreement in writing.
This is an awesome story. Here’s another article about it: http://education.change.org/blog/view/one_month_into_sit-in_chicago_moms_have_become_wonder_women?me=nl
It goes to show how nonviolent resistance isn’t just about huge actions involving national politics, but can be directed at local issues. The students will hopefully get a library, thanks to their parents’ unrelenting demands.