The crowd marches down Park Blvd. All photos by Gregg Robinson.
Hot Sunday, September 20th: Not everyone went to the beach or got ready for the Chargers game. 75 of our fellow San Diegans instead rallied against state cuts to health care and education. They rallied and then marched down Park Blvd to City College. And they rallied and marched for the rest of us. They really wanted to march on Sacramento, but had to settle for downtown San Diego.
It was high noon in front of the Navy Hospital near Balboa Park. People were gathering at Park and President’s Way, called together by an umbrella group, People United for Social Justice.
Our good friend and colleagues Susie Orlofsky and Gregg Robinson were there. With Gregg popping photos, Susie filed this brief report:
Although not large, the crowd was loud and lively—and banners and signs were creative & bitingly critical of the governor & Sacramento.
We hung out at the intersection for a half hour while the Puppet Insurgency members suited up—a medical doc in a white coat walked with a Mom who held her baby in her arms. Following them was Skelly the nine foot skeleton.
The Puppet Insurgency.
We marched down Park on the sidewalk over the freeway and past San Diego High School—then rallied in the front of City College—the route symbolized the drastic cuts to education and health care & the need to fight back to preserve our educational institutions and our health.
Here were the speakers:
Camille Zombra, president of San Diego Educators Assoc, lamented that Calilfornia now ranks 51st in lack of classroom aids/class size . . .
HIV /AIDs person Michael Laukner spoke on how the drastic cuts to HIV/AIDs are atrocious and how we must stand together to oppose them.
Cruz Acorta of ACORN spoke.
United Domestic Workers Brittney Clemence read a poem about “Unity”.
Justin Akers Chicano Studies teacher City College /AFT 1931
Aida Reyes of SPIN
Vince Hall of Planned Parenthood
Joseph Shanno, a City College student
Guitarist Ricardo & violinist Marina played and Anne Menashe and a SAME activist lead the crowd with chants and songs
Too bad we only had 75 people show up but 75 is a start.
Susan Orlofsky
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