On Thursday, May 5th, the EBR School Board is poised to ratify a map which maintains 9 single-member districts with too few majority-Black districts. For months, people in the community have diligently engaged in the redistricting process—attending public meetings, emailing their board members, posting comments on the public portal, and testifying at public hearings. The vast majority of comments were in support of a racially proportional map which increased the number of districts.
The map approved fails on both counts.
Five of the business-backed school board members ignored the will of the people and approved a plan that fails to accurately reflect the racial makeup of our school district and maintains the number of districts created by the unjust map adopted in 2014. Maintaining 9 single-member districts will allow unlimited campaign contributions from billionaires and SuperPACs to continue to exercise insurmountable influence in our local elections. It is our responsibility to rally for a just plan! On Thursday, May 5th between 4 and 6pm at the EBR School Board office at 1050 S. Foster Drive, please help us rally to restore the EBR School Board!
I know many are uncomfortable with publicly expressing their political positions, but please understand how important it is to register your opposition to an injustice. Think of the words of Frederick Douglass: “Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them.” Make no mistake: the five business-backed school board members’ approval of this 9-member plan is a continuation of an injustice. Please do not quietly submit to it. We engaged in every step of the process in good faith. There is no other opportunity for civic engagement. There is only one collective action left for us to take. Let’s stand together to demonstrate our opposition to this injustice that is being imposed upon us. The School Board’s vote reflects on the board members. How we respond to their vote reflects on us.
Stop by on Thursday for as long or as little as you like. Hold a sign or don’t. Want to be discreet? Wear a hat and mask and sunglasses. Want to help organize? Email me at tnyman@proton.me.
If you need a reminder about why there is no acceptable 9-member plan, please watch the 3-minute video of my testimony at the April 7th EBR School Board meeting. (See above.)
Or you can re-read my previous post, “There is No Acceptable 9-Member Plan.”
I hope to see you on May 5th.
Rally to Restore the EBR School Board