Allies Rally for Public Education, School Safety at the Capitol

Texas AFT regularly participates in coalition work with allies related to our legislative priorities; in the past week, we have had the chance to join our coalition partners at the Capitol for successful advocacy days. 

More than 400 advocates from a dozen allied organizations marched to the Capitol on Tuesday for the Texas Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence’s advocacy day. Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio), as well as a surviving teacher and student from Uvalde, spoke passionately about the need for commonsense gun reforms and the need to keep guns out of our schools. Every parent, student, and school employee deserves to feel safe at school. More guns are not the solution.

Uvalde teacher Arnulfo “Arnie” Reyes surrounded by parents of students killed in the Robb Elementary shooting.

The Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition (TLEEC) also held its advocacy day on Wednesday. TLEEC is a collaboration of more than 30 individuals and organizations with the mission of improving the quality of public education for all children, with a specific focus on racial equity. Advocates spoke out against voucher schemes and in support of high-quality bilingual education programs, as well as the need to preserve diversity and educational freedom on our university campuses.

Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP, speaks to the need to educate ALL texas school children.

We will provide continued advocacy highlights throughout the session.