Organize the South

Thanks to the efforts of numerous groups including the Georgia Citizens' Coalition on Hunger, the Americus and Sumter Branches of the NAACP, and the Southern Center for Human Rights, private probation has been kicked out of Sumter County, Georgia. For background on private probation, check out this 2008 Mother Jones article. Details on the victory are below care of The AmericUSumter Observer.

Through many prayers, tireless efforts from Georgia Citizens' Coalition on Hunger, represented by Director, Minister Sandra Roberson, NUBIA Grand Hierophant Mr. Eugene Edge, and the Americus and Sumter County Branch of the NAACP, represented by President Matt Wright and his staff, private probation as we know it will no longer exist in Americus and Sumter County, Georgia. The pleasant winds of change that were championed by Judge Rucker Smith and the Sumter County Commissioners, produced a landmark decision to do away with private probation in Americus and Sumter County.

We spoke with one of the commissioners and were told that after the NAACP, and the other organizations met with the Americus City Council with complaints from citizens, some on probation and the unified front of organizations against private probation, the decision was made to remove the last private probation office. Final details have not been completely worked out, but we do expect private probation to be long-gone from our County and City no later than April 01, 2010.

NAACP President Matt Wright stated that "he was overwhelmed by the sudden move toward justice. I expected this to eventually come to pass, but not this soon." Wright also expressed thanks to organizers Anginette Dodson, Minister Linda Wright, Assistant Police Chief Nelson Brown, Colonel Eric Bryant, other volunteers and the probationers who were not afraid to stand-up for their rights afforded to them by the U.S. Constitution. President Wright also noted that there could be a possible problem with the Judge who presides over City Court and that he and organizational partners are getting ready to set up a meeting with the Judge to pursue the issues. Wright said that Minister Robertson said she and her organization were very pleased, and that Sumter County was the only area that she knew of in the state of Georgia that has successfully won the probation fight against private probation companies.

Grand Hierophant, Edge said that, "the effort was a continued struggle for us at the office and those who were probationers in the county. I am reminded of a saying from a great African proverb, "A life of ease will sometimes allow us to forget struggle; therefore we must always be reminded of what it took to establish justice for the probationers." Wright closed by saying, "there is nothing better than swift justice." The first private probation company in Americus, Middle Georgia Probation, was run out with the help of the Law Office of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, GA. Kori Chen, one of the organizers, assisted our local NAACP and the other organizations in removing Middle Georgia Probation. We are so very appreciative of their dedicated service to so many communities in Georgia, says President Wright.

This is direct from the Progressive Student Alliance. Notice the time is 10am and not 11am. Come on out and save public education.

As many of you know, there will be a demonstration against higher education cuts THIS MONDAY, March 15th at 10:00 A.M. at the Georgia Capitol. The Board of Regents and state legislators have noted that the cuts, at their worst, could include up to a 30% hike in tuition, $1,000 in extra student fees, increased furloughs, and up to 4,000 layoffs of campus workers. Campuses large and small across Georgia have mobilized local demonstrations over the past few weeks in reaction to this news and hundreds of these students will be coming together at the State Capitol tomorrow.

We hope you will join us for this historic event to show our strength at the Capitol and demand a just solution to this budget gap that does NOT include tuition hikes, more furloughs, more layoffs, and further cuts to the University System of Georgia. We must also avoid a "divide and conquer" approach that pits students against workers or areas of the public sector against one another (for example, cutting K-12 to fund higher education). We have arranged a number of wonderful and exciting speakers including fellow students, faculty, and state legislators, and after the demonstration we will hold a meeting to discuss the future of this movement, led by Georgia Students for Public Higher Education, and how YOU can get involved on your campus!

For those who would like to march from GSU campus, meet at Hurt Park (on Edgewood) at 9:30 AM.

We look forward to seeing you on March 15th for whatever portion of the demonstration you can make it to! Please come out and make history with us on March 15th at the Georgia Capitol! Local, state-wide, and even national media will be watching--show them we have big numbers and bring everyone you know out!

Georgia Students for Public Higher Education

(the GSU Progressive Student Alliance is a proud member of GSPHE)

Georgia Students for Public Higher Education sent out this update on the rally on March 15. Come out to the Capitol on Monday, 11am.

As many of you know, there will be a demonstration THIS MONDAY, March 15th at 10:00 A.M. at the Georgia Capitol. We hope you will join us for this historic event as students from across the state come together to show our strength at the Capitol and demand a just solution to this budget gap that does NOT include tuition hikes, more furloughs, more layoffs, and further cuts to the University System of Georgia. We have arranged a number of wonderful and exciting speakers including fellow students, faculty, and state legislators, and after the demonstration we will hold a meeting to discuss the future of this movement, Georgia Students for Public Higher Education, and how YOU can get involved on your campus!

For those who would like to participate, some of the SGA presidents from various universities will also be meeting at Hurt Park at 8:30 A.M. before marching over to the Capitol where GSPHE will host the demonstration.

We look forward to seeing you on March 15th for whatever portion of the demonstration you can make it to! Please come out and make history with us on March 15th at the Georgia Capitol!

Georgia Students for Public Higher Education

This is a call to action from Georgia Students for Public Higher Education. There will be a March 15 rally at the Capitol demanding that public education in Georgia be saved.

The economic crisis has hit public education, and it's taking no prisoners. A proposed "compromise plan" for the University System of Georgia includes over an over 30% tuition hike, a $1,000 fee hike (on top of the $100-200 fee hikes already instituted), hundreds of layoffs for campus workers, even more furlough days for faculty, department "consolidations" and closures, a shortened semester schedule, campus closures and drastically reduced admissions rates. The concept of public higher education itself is facing extinction. Many of us have already lost jobs, faced wage cuts, and many have even lost their homes. Working people everywhere have felt the pain of the crisis and it just doesn't seem to have an end. Other public services are also facing extinction. From public transit to housing and healthcare, everything is at stake. Public K-12 education is also under severe attack, with already crowded classrooms that continue to balloon in size, teachers forced to work under incredibly adverse conditions, and students being subjected to mind-numbing standardization in the place of education.

We in Georgia Students for Public Higher Education come to you proposing a real solution--not one that asks you to sell out other students, other programs, campus workers, or faculty. We demand justice. A real recovery from this crisis means stopping the cuts right NOW to get our state moving forward. We didn't cause this crisis and we should not have to pay for it. If that means passing a "sin tax" on cigarettes or taxing the super-rich (who have been assuring investors of rising profitability for months now), so be it. Education could be an engine of job growth and a haven for those eager to gain new footing in difficult times. If these cuts go through, that hope will be lost.

We can only get there by standing together--students, campus workers, faculty, and community members. A state-wide movement is being built to connect all of us in an historic effort to save public higher education. On March 15 at the Georgia state capitol, we'll have an opportunity to show our strength and we urge everyone to join us. If you can't be there, join the "Virtual Day at the Capitol" (check facebook for information on how to do this). You can also join or organize demonstrations on your campuses in support of this movement on March 15--consider organizing a campus walkout, a rally outside your president's office, a letter-writing party for your representatives, or whatever else you feel is appropriate for your campus.

Until March 15, stay plugged in by joining the facebook group "Georgia Students for Higher Public Education" (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=ts&gid=215693188744) for updates. If you'd like to organize with us join our Google group (http://groups.google.com/group/georgiastudents/) to discuss action plans.

See you at the capitol!

MONDAY, MARCH 15 2010.
11 to 3 PM (time subject to change)

If you aren't on facebook, check the GSU Progressive Student Alliance blog for updates.

Brought to you by "USG Students for Quality Education" and "Georgia Students for Public Higher Education."

Yesterday about 40 students from around the state held a press conference in front of the Georgia legislative assembly demanding hands off the education budget. The press conferences was put together in a couple of days and included students from University of West Georgia, Dalton State University, Augusta State University, Georgia State University, and other campuses.

Last week the University System of Georgia Chancellor and some state legislators floated the idea of a 77% tuition increase. This week, however, they are talking about a 35% increase as well as an extra $1000 in fees. In effect, this is a tax on Georgians seeking an education. While students were involved in fighting fee hikes before talk of such draconian measures (check out the GSU PSA January 2 demo), this threat to education has led to an increase in activity. On March 4, in solidarity with California students fighting similar cuts, students across Georgia will have various actions. Augusta State is organizing a walk out while other campuses are holding outreach events.

A rally is planned for Monday, March 15 at 11am at the Capitol. The rally is being called by University System of Georgia Students for a Quality Education and Georgia Students for Public Education. The rally will include speakers and visits to legislators.

Below is a repost from the Georgia State University Progressive Student Alliance blog. It's short notice, but come out if you can.


MARCH 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM PSA
http://gsuprogressive.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/march-2-announcements/

GSU Progressive Student Alliance members and supporters,

If there's been any question that education is under attack, it should be answered by now with an unfortunate and resounding YES. State lawmakers have actually pondered not just cuts to staff, faculty, and departments on individual campuses, but tuition increases of up to 77% to cover the budget cap. This is because, as they say, "everything is on the table"...and by that, of course, they mean everything but upper administrator salaries, raising funding through tax increases for the super-rich, and closing corporate tax loopholes. To them, "everything" means picking the pockets of students and parents, already bearing the burden of an economic crisis they did not create. Some of our especially enlightened lawmakers have offered expert analysis: "We're becoming a socialist society when we say that you shouldn't raise tuition at all," Sen. Balfour (R-Snellville) said, adding that his son attends college in Georgia and that tuition "is embarrassingly cheap."

Actually Sen. Balfour and friends, I'll just stick with my "socialist" demand that education should remain public, accessible, and affordable. Those who created the crisis and continue to profit from an educated Georgia can make the sacrifices for once, because we've already tightened our belts more than enough in the last several years. As we chanted on 1/12 and 2/9 at GSU, "Education is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!" We can assure you there will be no shortage of opportunities to do this in the coming months and we'll do our best to include updates from across the state.

-Ryan for the PSA

(Folks should also be aware that March 4 this week has been declared the "National Day of Student Action," as students and campus workers have been faced with cuts across the country. Though all of these actions aren't on the same day, we realize we are all in this fight together!)

1. MARCH 3, 12 PM, PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORTERS PRESS CONFERENCE AT GEORGIA CAPITOL: The Higher Education Subcommittee of the Georgia House of Representatives is scheduled to meet Wednesday, March 3, from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the Georgia Capitol. Please join Dalton State College Social Work Club and Georgia Students for Public Higher Education in letting the members of the committee know your thoughts about the proposed $285 million in cuts to University System of Georgia funding by joining us at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Please wear black symbolizing the death of Georgia's future. (THE EVENT IS NOT A MARCH: We are encouraging you to consider attending the meeting. Individuals interested in attending the entire 8 AM - 12 PM session, please meet at the front steps of the State Capitol at 7:30 AM. Those interested in attending the last hour of the session, please meet at the front steps at 10:30 AM. Press has been invited to be present at noon.)
2. MARCH 3, 3 PM, GSU PRES. BECKER ADDRESSES STUDENTS, GSU STUDENT CENTER BALLROOM: It's likely that details of painful cuts ahead will be announced at this meeting. We will be here collecting signatures for a giant card to Pres. Becker, asking him to stand with students in demanding creative and just legislative action that doesn't involve wrecking public higher education. (The card says "We <3>
3. MARCH 3, 5 PM, MEETING TO PLAN DEMONSTRATION, GSU LIBRARY NORTH ROOM 419: After the subcommittee meeting, please meet with members of state-wide groups to plan an upcoming demonstration against education cuts. **EVERYONE WELCOME!**
4. MARCH 4, 10 AM - 2 PM, CARD SIGNING AND TABLING IN GSU LIBRARY COURTYARD: Sign our giant card to Pres. Becker and deliver it with us! Talk to us about what you think we need to do to save public higher education!
5. MARCH 6, 11 AM - 1 PM, PUBLIC SECTOR EMERGENCY MEETING: ATU Local 732, the MARTA transit workers union, has called a public meeting to bring together everyone in the public sector to brainstorm and speak out in defense of public education, transit, healthcare, and other services. The meeting will take place in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Auditorium (501 Pulliam Street, on the other side of the downtown connector from the stadium).