Activists march to mayor, chancellor’s apartments with pots and pans for school safety 'wake-up call'

Local activists and parents armed with pots pans and a whole band marched through the streets of Brooklyn Friday in an attempt to “wake up” the mayor and schools chancellor.

News 12 Staff

Sep 4, 2020, 4:33 PM

Updated 1,493 days ago

Share:

Local activists and parents armed with pots pans and a whole band marched through the streets of Brooklyn Friday in an attempt to “wake up” the mayor and schools chancellor.

Activists say it is a wakeup call, both literally and figuratively.

They began in Park Slope, banging on pots pans and playing instruments first in front of the old apartment of Mayor Bill DeBlasio.

They ended about 2.5 miles away at the apartment of NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza.

The mayor has said schools are set to reopen on Sept. 21, but those protesting say schools aren’t ready.

“There’s not enough PPE. Teachers have told us they don’t have masks, they don’t have hand sanitizer; how do you convince a kindergartner to keep their mask on for eight hours if they won’t even keep it on for 15 minutes to walk to the park,” says Flynn Murray, of NYC School Workers Solidarity Campaign.
At both the mayor’s former apartment and Chancellor Carranza’s, the activists laid down coffins to symbolize what they believe reopening schools will lead to.

“Basically, forcing everyone to the front lines not just teachers and administrators and parents but children as well,” says Desiree Joy Frias, of Democratic Socialists of America.

They’ll also be rallying in Manhattan this afternoon.