video: NEW: Teachers Rally Blasts Taveras
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Providence teachers and union leaders blasted away at Mayor Angel Taveras at a rally held on the steps of City Hall this afternoon.
One speaker after another stepped up to the podium to plead with Taveras to rescind the terminations, invoking comparisons to both Central Falls and Wisconsin.
Six councilmen stood behind the speakers in support of the teachers, while two others were reportedly in the audience. Councilmen Kevin Jackson and Nicholas Narducci both spoke at the rally.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOther speakers included local NEA President Larry Purtill, wearing a red Wisconsin sweatshirt, and Rhode Island AFL-CIO President George Nee, who told a crowd of hundreds that all unions were standing in solidarity with Providence teachers.
A spokeswoman for Taveras declined to specifically comment on the accusations leveled at the rally, but she said the Mayor respects the right of anyone to express their opinion. "Speak, protest, rally—do whatever you have to do to express your opinion," said spokeswoman Melissa Withers.
UPDATE: Withers confirmed that Taveras was scheduled to speak down with Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, after the rally. She said they had a private talk, with no public announcements expected to be made afterwards.
Related Articles
- Breaking News: Chafee wins teacher’s union endorsement
- NEW: Providence Teacher Firings vs. Layoffs – What’s the Difference?
- BREAKING NEWS: Central Falls Teachers Say It’s a Deal
- Central Falls Teachers: Don’t Blame Us
- NEW: Providence Teachers Union Boss Calls on Taveras to Rescind Firing
- BREAKING NEWS: Gist - Central Falls Teachers, Administration Reach a Deal
- Democratic Chair and Prov Mayor are Snubbed by Teachers Union
- Over 100 Central Falls Teachers Face Layoffs
- BREAKING NEWS: Providence Issues Layoff Notices to All Teachers
- EP Teachers, School Committee Resume Talks
- Round 2: Providence Teachers Fire Back
- State Teacher Union Backs ‘Race to the Top’
- BREAKING NEWS: Taveras Defends His Decision to Fire Teachers
- East Providence Committee to Vote on Teacher Contract
- Bill Would Give Town Council Role in Teacher Contracts
- Is Taveras Right to Fire All the Providence Teachers?
- Block Says Teachers’ Endorsement of Chafee ‘Uninformed’
- NEW: National Union President to Attend Prov. Teacher Rally
