Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1535219
discrimination," says CTA President David Goldberg. "We are committed to protecting every single student — regardless of where they were born or how they identify or who they choose to love. Our union will use our collective power to defend against any threats to our beautiful and diverse communities." Across the state, educators in their local unions are fighting for the rights and well-being of all students, and the resources they need for the public schools they deserve. Near the Arizona border in Blythe, special education teacher Luis Benvenutti is working hard to defend the community's most vulnerable kids. He urges fellow members to lead the way in their communities to protect a public education system that serves everyone. "You need to stand up and fight back. If we just accept what people think is inevitable, it will hurt everyone and create an even more difficult environment for teachers and students," says Benvenutti, a member of Palo Verde Teachers Association (PV TA). "They want to privatize education. What's going to happen to our most vulnerable? Immigrant kids? Exceptional children? We want to have a quality education that is for every- one. is fight is all about participation, so get on it, you know? Don't wait to get active because it's already scary times." Home is Here "Every kid who comes here is our kid. is is not political for us," says Jose Rodriguez, history teacher and member of Santa Maria Elementary Education Association (SMEEA). "is is our calling as educators and of course we're going to protect our students. Whether they're documented or undocumented, all these students belong to us." Educators took action in solidarity with their students in Santa Maria in February, helping to organize a community rally in support of students and families who immigrated here and calling on their school board to adopt a resolution of dis- trict commitment to not cooperate with ICE raids on school campuses or share information about students with agents. Rodriguez says students had been organizing to protest Trump's executive orders on immigration and to ask the city council to establish a sanctuary zone around schools when educators stepped up. SMEEA members and their families joined students in a public display of support before marching to a school board meeting. Rodriguez says he was excited to see other unions, community organizations, families and neighbors chanting, holding signs and leading the fight for safe schools for all. "It was great to see all the different organizations come out to support our students," says Rodriguez. "Our kids were already doing walkouts on their own, and I knew we had to do some- thing to support them. I saw what educators did in Alhambra to rally for their students and showed [this to] our members to encourage and inspire them to participate." " Our union will use our collective power to defend against any threats to our beautiful and diverse communities." — CTA President David Goldberg Alhambra educators rallied to support safe spaces for ther students facing attacks from the Trump Administration. Javier Gutierrez, social science teacher, Alhambra Teachers Association 17 M AY 2 0 2 5