Education Rally On Tuesday–Carmen Lopez: Reject ‘Banana Republic’

Education activists have planned a 6 p.m. rally for Tuesday at City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace. Mayoral candidates who have been invited are urging supporters to attend the event. This release was issued by retired Superior Court Judge Carmen Lopez:

A COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS IS SPONSORING A “PEOPLE’S CONVENTION TO SAVE OUR CHILDREN” EVENT ON TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011. THE ACTIVITY WILL GET UNDERWAY SHORTLY AFTER 6: P. M. AND WILL BE HELD ON THE STEPS OF BRIDGEPORT CITY HALL, 45 LYON TERRACE.

THE RALLY IS BEING BILLED AS A “PEOPLE’S CONVENTION.” ORGANIZERS SAY THAT THE GROUPS CAME TOGETHER FOLLOWING THE VOTE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO REPLACE BRIDGEPORT’S ELECTED BOARD OF EDUCATION WITH ONE APPOINTED BY THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.

HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS VOTE TRANSCENDS THE IMMEDIATE CONTROVERSY INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE BRIDGEPORT BOARD OF EDUCATION.

“WE ARE OUTRAGED THAT OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT AND THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, IN AN ORCHESTRATED COUP, HAVE STOLEN FROM THE PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS OF THIS CITY THE RIGHT TO ELECT THE MEMBERS OF THE BRIDGEPORT BOARD OF EDUCATION,” SAID LYLE HASSAN JONES, ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT. “THIS ACT STRIKES AT THE HEART OF OUR DEMOCRATIC TRADITION, AND THE EXERCISE OF THE PRECIOUS RIGHT TO VOTE BY A FREE PEOPLE,” HE SAID.

AMONG THE ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORING THE RALLY ARE CITIZENS’ REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE DOMINICAN AMERICAN COALITION, AND SAVE OUR BABIES, INC.

THOSE ORGANIZING THE EVENT EMPHASIZED THE RALLY IS NOT BEING STAGED IN SUPPORT OF ANY MAYORAL CANDIDATE AND THAT ALL ARE WELCOMED TO ATTEND THE NON-PARTISAN AFFAIR.

 “THE ISSUE FACING OUR CITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PERSONALITIES, PARTISAN POLITICS, OR THE AMBITIONS OF ANY CANDIDATE FOR POLITICAL OFFICE,” SAID RETIRED SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, CARMEN L. LOPEZ. “THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IS WHETHER THE PEOPLE OF BRIDGEPORT WILL PUBLICLY ASSERT THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-GOVERNMENT, OR WHETHER THEY WILL PASSIVELY ALLOW THAT RIGHT TO BE RIPPED FROM THEM, IN THE BEST TRADITION OF A BANANA REPUBLIC,” LOPEZ DECLARED.

“WHAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE JULY 1 MUST CONCERN EVERY CITIZEN AND EVERY TAXPAYER IN THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE PARENTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN,” SAID HASSAN-JONES. “NONE OF US CAN BE SPECTATORS BECAUSE DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT. THIS ABDICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND ATTACK ON THE HEART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS CANNOT BE PERMITTED TO STAND,” HE CONCLUDED.