'We're going to keep fighting': Durham teachers set sights on November
Teachers across North Carolina felt rejuvenated and inspired Thursday, one day after an estimated 30,000 educators and supporters rallied in downtown Raleigh, calling for additional education funding.
Durham teachers took a leading role in the events on Wednesday. Theirs was the first school system to cancel classes for the day. Teachers in Durham said they were happy to be leaders but that the rally is just the beginning.
"We want to see change. We're going to see change," said Turquoise Parker, vice president of the Durham Association of Educators.
Parker said the focus is now on November, where teachers will support candidates who make a commitment to public education.
Teachers are looking for "per-pupil expenditures to at least the national average, no tax cuts for the wealthy, for corporations," she said.
Parker said the DAE is already organizing so that teachers across the state can hold voter registration and voter education events.
"If each educator takes at least two to three people to the polls with them, tells them which candidates are pro-public education candidates, we public school teachers will run this state," she said.
Wednesday's rally gave Bull City teachers the encouragement they need to push them to the finish line.
"We also say this thing in Durham, 'When you mess with the bull, you get the horns,'" Parker said. "So, we're going to keep fighting. That's how we do it in Durham."
The DAE will meet on Monday to continue planning out their next steps.
