Newark Students Protest for Better Education

 

Newark Students Protest for Better Education



Nicauris Veras, Junior, Shabazz High School leads the charge for a quality education.

   First let me clarify, this is not a news story. This week’s blog is based on a protest march I photographed last June, but never actually posted. The Newark Student’s Union had staged a number of sit-ins and student walkouts throughout the 2014-15 school year demanding the removal of   Cami Anderson, as superintendent of the Newark public school system. Anderson, a friend of former Newark Mayor and current U.S. Senator Cory Booker, was appointed to the position, by Gov. Chris Christie in 2011, to oversee a school system that has been under state control for more than 20 years. Obviously, this is no longer a news story, six-months after the fact; however, the ultimate goal of Newark Public school autonomy is still relevant, and the battle, ongoing, in that respect, the post may not be news; however, it’s pertinent. I believe these images should be seen, and the subject broached, so I’m giving you some


Newark high school students from throughout the city pack the City Hall steps and demanded the state appointed School Superintendent step down.

background as a reference. Without getting into this too deeply, several of Cami Anderson’s initiatives, which led to multiple school closings, numerous teacher layoffs, and many students being forced to attend schools far outside of their neighborhood; proved very unpopular with the city’s parents and students. Anderson came under attack, but still had the support of both the Booker Administration and Governor Christie. Ms. Anderson’s position became more untenable when Senator Booker (D, NJ) went to Washington and Raz Baraka, a former high school principal, was elected Newark’s new Mayor. Baraka had campaigned hard on the issue of returning control of the Newark school system to the city.


Approximately 1,000 students from high schools all over the city participated in the walkout.

 

  Last spring, the Newark Student’s Union, in cooperation with NJ Communities, staged a student walkout. Approximately 1,000 students from Barringer, Central, Eastside, Shabazz, Technology, Arts, Science, Weequahic, Westside and University high school, walked out of their classes and descended on City Hall demanding her removal from the position she had held for four years. The students, armed with chant sheets and energy bars, passionately, but peacefully voiced their displeasure with her tenure and called for her dismissal. The students marched from City Hall to the Peter W. Rodino Federal Office Building, a block away, before moving onto the intersection of Miller Street and McCarter Highway; where they sat on the road, tying up traffic and blocking the route to the New Jersey Turnpike for a time, before dispersing shortly before rush hour.

After leaving City Hall, outraged students head to the Peter Rodino Federal Building.

 Student protests, or student activism, if you insist, are not a new phenomenon; American students have used protests and demonstrations to express their displeasure with various conditions for at least the last 80 years. In the 1930’s The American Youth Congress, with the support of Eleanor Roosevelt, called out against war and racial discrimination, and demanded more youth programs. They were also fervently against the draft. The women’s suffrage movement, at the turn of the last century, the civil rights demonstrations of the 50’s and 60’s, the Anti- war demonstrations of the late 60’s and early 70’s, and the still ongoing battle for gay rights are all part of America’s proud tradition of dissention and students have always been in the thick of it. America’s belief in dissention and speaking out is older than America itself; after all wasn’t the Revolutionary War the largest, most violent and most direct statement of dissention in American history? Yes, yes, yes, some would insist it was the Civil War, but, for right now, climb down from your soapbox; we’ll save that argument for another posting.



Jose Leonardo, Vice President, Newark Students Union Fires up the crowd



Perhaps the most infamous incident in recent memory concerning student activism dates back to1970.  In May of that tumultuous year, Iowa State troopers massacred four anti-war demonstrators and wounded nine more at Kent State University. However, instead of frightening and demoralizing the students; it galvanized them forming the scattered, individual fingers among them into one unified fist and that fist descended on the National Guard Armory demanding justice for those killed.



American students have a long and proud history of speaking out against the Status quo.

 Most recently, black football players at the University of Missouri, supported ongoing anti-discrimination demonstrations, by refusing to play until the ouster of, University President, Timothy M. Wolfe, because of his failure to deal with racial tensions on campus. The protesting players, in turn, garnered the support of their coaches and many of their white teammates, eventually leading to Wolfe’s resignation.



Shabazz High School student leads a chant.

  For her part, Anderson, who did eventually step down, believes the attacks on her and her programs were politically motivated, she told New York Times reporter, Kate Zernike, the debate had lost its focus and become an ideological minefield. Anderson, right or wrong, became a casualty of a nationwide debate on the best way to improve the public education system, a system that was once the world standard, but, is now, routinely mediocre.  Meanwhile, the battle for local school autonomy rages on unabated.

Newark students desperately and forcefully demanded better educational opportunities.

 As for the students, while it was fairly apparent they were being schooled on the organization and etiquette of protesting by others far more experienced than themselves; the printed chant sheets and the energy bar distribution was a dead giveaway; however, the outrage, the passion, and the determination to have a voice in their own future belonged to the students, exclusively. Did the students have all the facts?




Probably not; should the students have a voice or should they adhere to the old adage, “if you are not old enough to vote, you are not old enough to have an opinion”?  Not a chance. This is their future at stake here, and they will be the ones who will have to deal with the consequences of our mistakes and misdeeds; and without a quality education they will forever be, stuck climbing the mountain of life wearing lead lined shoes and the albatross of our political posturing and manipulation hanging from their necks. Kahlil Gibran could not have stated it more accurately or succinctly than in his seminal work, “The Prophet”, when he wrote You may give your children your love, but not your thoughts, you may house their bodies, but not their souls, you may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you, for life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday.



Grace Tyler leads a call for quality education

 



Not all of the protesters were students.

Protest slogans were read from preprinted chant sheets.

 

Nicauris Veras, Grace Tyler and another student confer on strategy.



Students take their complaints to the Peter Rodino Federal Building.

The students enjoyed widespread support for their cause.

We Will Be Heard

Until next time; peace and love to you.

A.T. Lee is a freelance photojournalist and essayist covering social and political issues in Northern New Jersey, NYC, and Washington D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know its spring when the paint starts to fly, Holi celebration at New York’s Columbia University

 

 

Recently I headed over to Columbia University to participate in this year’s Holi celebration, presented by the university’s Hindu Student’s Organization (HSO.) like most modern holidays, Holi began as a religious festival, in this case an ancient Hindu festival, in India; but, it has grown through the years to transcend, not only its religious roots, but the county of its origin as well. In its modern rendition throughout Asia, Europe and North America, Holi, also known as the festival of colors, has become a celebration of the arrival of spring, featuring bright vibrant colors, music laugher, dance, and love. The celebration entails, but is not limited to, smearing one another with paint and dousing each other with colored water, all done in the spirit of celebration and fun. It is a perfect celebration for the young and the young at heart.

  While most who know me have reconciled with the dubious truth that I am practically addicted to shooting in black and white; that does not even come close to making sense when photographing this wonderful, and very colorful, Hindu celebration. I must say what affected me most being there, was the sheer joy of the event and the unparalleled camaraderie among those who attended. It encouraged me immensely and strengthened an optimism that has taken a pretty brutal beating as of late; that perhaps the world is not going to hell in a hand basket. One can only hope.

p.s. Since there are so many photographs in this series, I will have to do this blog in two parts.

 

 

 

The quiet before the storm

 

A gathering of convivial spirits

Ready for a good time

 



It’s Showtime

 

 



 

 

 

I simply love her smile

 

Not the hair, please, not the hair.

 

Big fun in NYC



 

Another fabulous smile

 

This is my type of gun

 

Spring is for young lovers

 

 

 

Two students enjoy the festival, the music & the spirit of the day.

 





Talk to the hand

 

A time for fun and friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to our party



Until next time



 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 







 




 

 





 

 



 

 

 











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







 




Even in the freezing cold, New Yorkers visit the bronze 9/11 plaque dedicated to the brave firefighters who lost their lives on that dreadful day.

 

 

For whatever nonsensical reasoning I can come up with for explaining my being out in the freezing cold last week; there I was, camera in hand, eyes darting around like a hungry jackal, looking for something to shoot. After an hour or so of meandering around in the cold shooting anything that looked remotely interesting, I came upon the NYFD Memorial Wall. I had photographed there before, but never at sunset, and I was intrigued by the way the sun hit the memorial. This time I was more interested in the small details than the monument itself, I was drawn to the line of flags that flapped in the wind, above the memorial and equally enamored with the line of individual roses tourists and visitors routinely lay at its base.

 In 2001, the usual quiet of an ordinary September morning was shattered when, at 8:46 AM, a passenger airliner, piloted by Islamic extremists, struck the north tower of the World Trade Center bursting into flames and spewing hundreds of gallons of highly flammable fuel into the structure. At 9:03 AM, a second airliner struck the south tower of the World Trade Center. The intense heat of the fuel-fed inferno compromised both structures causing the south tower to collapse in  a mere 56 minutes, at 9:59 AM; sending

thousands panicked New Yorkers frantically running away to avoid being engulfed in a cloud of suffocating dust several stories high; the north tower collapsed 27 minutes later at 10:28 AM. That day, New York faced the most challenging, devastating and harrowing day in its long and illustrious history. According to New York Magazine, in the aftermath of that tragic morning 2,753 persons perished, including 343 NYFD firefighters, 1 volunteer firefighter, 23 NYPD police officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers. There was property damage estimated at more than $20 billion and fires of various sizes and intensities continued to burn for more than three months.

 Witnessing the carnage unfolding before him that fateful morning, Glenn J. Winuk a volunteer firefighter with the Jericho, NY fire Department, a trained EMT, and partner with the 1,200 attorney, law firm of Holland & Knight LLP, ran into the fray. He had to do something; anything to help his fellow New Yorkers; in his desire to save lives and assist those in need, Winuk made the ultimate sacrifice that day. Wishing to commemorate and honor their fallen partner, Holland & Knight through their  Holland & Knight Charitable  Foundation raised over half a million dollars  to honor those who fell that day.

 Unveiled on November 10, 2006, the wall commemorates the 344 NYFD firefighters, who lost their lives on the terrible day in September, 2001. Firefighters, who ran toward the danger to do what they do best, save lives. The solid bronze relief, designed by Budapest born sculptor, Joseph Petrovics, is 6 feet high and 56 feet in length and depicts the tragic events and heroic actions of that day; the relief is also inscribed with the names of the 343 NYFD members who perished that day, as well as a plaque honoring, Holland & Knight LLP partner, Glenn J. Winuk. The die was cast by Bidi-Markky Art Foundry, Brooklyn, NY.  When completed, the 7,000 pound relief was then transported to the city in three sections.

 Since its 2006 unveiling, each year, thousands visit the memorial to lay flowers, honor, and remember the sacrifice made by these heroes. The Plaque functions as a memorial for those perished that day, an acknowledgement of those who serve today and as inspiration to those who will serve in the future.

There is no better way to end this than with the words of Jay Winuk, brother of Glenn Winuk, I think this memorial is nothing short of a statement to the world that in this city and country we value life; we value courage; we value honor; and we honor those who sacrifice for others… we survive adversity and then we flourish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The thrill of shadow and light and the agony of the missed shot



Enclosed walkway at  NYC Penn Station

 

In the final analysis, this image may just constitute a throw away; but I want to tell the story anyway. There must be some type of work going on at Madison Square Garden, NYC, because there is a walkway enclosure in some areas. Basically it is an enclosure with temporary walls, acrylic windows, and a roof; you know, a walkway, nothing really special except, that light… that wonderful light and, of course, the way the sun hit the enclosure from the perfect angle creating a beautiful array of light and shadow. Being addicted to photography as I am, there; I’ve said it, I’m a photo junkie, I thought it would make an interesting image, and a particularly interesting black and white image; chromatic greyscale, if you insist; but, I also needed a subject in my scene, I needed a person, to add dimension to the image and I needed them quickly. You see, I was on my way to a workshop, at B & H Photo, and did not want to be late. Suddenly, there she was; the woman of my dreams, or at least, the woman of my image; she was standing at an opening in the enclosure smoking a cigarette, and by the looks of it, she really needed it; smoke was swirling back into her face and behind her filtering into the enclosure; and believe me, this woman was in ecstasy, her eyes were rolling around like two runaway marbles racing down a steep hill. Now I had shadow, light, a subject, and, the topper, smoke. No sooner did I set my exposure and framing, two other persons walked through the enclosure, blocking my smoking lady. I politely stepped aside so they could pass; but by then, my muse was gone. Usually, I would have camped out there until another suitable subject presented themselves; however, as I said, I was running late, so regrettably, I had to leave, but not before I made this image. I still like the shadow and light, I still like the scene, but I miss that woman with rolling eyes and a hammerlock on her cigarette.

 Newark Public Library holds a Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute

 

 Even today; the mention of Doctor  Martin Luther King Jr.’s name elicits many emotions in American citizenry; for some, sadness mixed with joy, pride, and remembrance of a seminal period of race relations in our country; for others, an opportunity to finally speak out, in force, against the injustices many of them had witnessed being perpetrated on innocent men women and children; still, for others, the name conjures up feelings of uneasiness, fear, resentment, anger, and sometimes, downright hatred; and, of course, there are those who equate Doctor King’s name and memory with the destruction of American democracy, at least ; their definition of American democracy.

 However; for a moment, let’s forget the historical significance of Dr. King; let’s set aside his status as a social justice paragon; let’s discount those who would describe him as a modern day Moses; lets disregard the notion he was one of the most persuasive and prolific speakers of the 20th Century; let’s ignore he put himself, front and center, in a fight he could easily have avoided; finally, let’s remove his race from the equation. I know; I know, my argument has just lost all credibility; because persons who lose their minds usually lose credibility as well; but ride this horse with me for a few more words while I explain. Though in the overall scheme of things it is hard to separate an iconic ethic symbol from their ethnicity; however, once we peel away the 2 square meters of troublesome, but necessary, skin that covers us all, we cease to see everything through that internal filter through which we invariably view the world. Once that filter is removed, or, at least, disengaged, we can sing along to the 70’s Johnny Nash hit “I can see clearly now”. For then and only then, can we see those important traits; those endearing qualities; those defining characteristics of the person in question that really matter. That is when you can clearly see a person’s ideology, talent, drive, passion, morality, character, and humanity in its true light.

 Doctor King, to some degree, deserves all of the above listed accolades; but I want to look at him as a man; not as a perfect man, not as a flawless man; but, as a man, as an American Citizen; as the epitome of what type of man America is, and always has been capable of producing. Not only was Dr. King a product of the American dream; he was the embodiment of the American dream. Below is a short summary of his accomplishments; and let me remind you he achieved all of this in 39 short years:

·         King was born in 1939

·         At Age 13 he became the youngest assistant manager of a newspaper delivery station for the Atlanta Journal

·         At Age 15 he passed an entrance exam for Morehouse College

·         Graduated Booker T. Washington High School at 16

·         1948 Graduated Morehouse College with a degree in Sociology

·         Elected student body president of Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania

·         1951 Graduated Crozer Theological Seminary

·         1954 Became Pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama

·         1955 Received his Ph.D. systematic theology, Boston University

·         1955 Led the Montgomery Bus Boycott

·         1957 Co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

·         1958 Authored Stride toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story; a memoir of the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott.

·         1958 Narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a book signing.

·         1963 Gave his now famous “I have a dream” speech, one of the most memorable of the 20^th century, to a quarter of a million attendees of the march and untold millions via television while standing before the Lincoln Memorial.

·         1964 Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

·         1965 Organized marches that proved instrumental in the passage of Voting Rights Act.

·         1967 He began to speak out against the Vietnam War

·         April 4 1968 King was assassinated

 

 The point is; Dr. King, his life, death and accomplishments are NOT a black American story; his, is an American story. The American Dream is based on the construct that every American can possibly achieve success; not only was his life the consummation, of the American dream; his life is every American’s dream; to see and live life, seize the moment, pursue your dream, maximize your potential, evolve and grow as a person, find a purpose in life, and perhaps most important, make a difference in your world.

 I attended a MLK tribute a few weeks ago at the Newark Public Library. It was fabulous. Among those on stage was Jerome C. Harris Jr. Interim CEO of New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, who acted as Master of Ceremonies; an absolutely fantastic group of singers, The Special Ensemble Youth Choir; they were simply amazing, who said there are no good kids out there? There was a wonderful poet, named Jaleesa McEachin. Lastly, there was the keynote speaker; author, philanthropist, Kevin Powell, who alternately entertained, informed, cajoled, inspired and challenged those in attendance. His presentation was followed by a question /answer segment and book signing by the author. Of course I was there; camera in hand making a nuisance of myself as usual; but, hey; that’s what I do.

Wilma J. Grey, NPL Director was there to welcome the crowd

Master of Ceremonies Jerome C Harris  

The Special Ensemble Youth Choir was simply amazing

The Special Ensemble Youth Choir had people practically dancing in their seats.

Poet, Jaleesa McEachin

The Special Ensemble Youth Choir takes a well-deserved break.

Keynote speaker, Kevin Powell

The attendees thoroughly joyed; and were inspired by, Kevin Powell’s presentation.

Powell implored those in the audience to become the new leaders.

After the presentation, attendees lined up for a book signing & a private chat with the author.

Celeste Bateman and Harriett Cramer; holding down the fort.