DC

The National Research Council Makes Its Report, Finally

It feels like forever that DC Public Schools have been known as one of the worst (if not the worst) public school systems in the nation. Low test scores and high dropout rates back up the perception. Twenty years ago, DC School Reform Act of 1995 (a gift from Congress, not a District initiative) gave us charter schools. Many Washingtonians with an investment in the school system (i.e. parents, students, teachers, etc. ) believed that this was the answer. But after ten years, the numbers hadn’t improved—not in the new charters or in the traditional public schools.

On the 11th of June, several activists opposing Congressional "fast-track" authority for the TPP trade deal held vigil next to the US Capitol, intending to stay put until the Friday, June 12 vote in the House on the TPP fast-track bill

On the 4th of June, activists began the "Rigged Trade Rebellion" presence on Capitol Hill to oppose passage of "fast-track" for the TPP and other trade deals. This presence will continue every Tuesday and Thursday at Independence and NJ Aves SW. The TPP treaty is nearly done except for disputes between the US and Japan, stopping fast-track is not crucial to stopping the entire TPP.

Video interview-status of fight to stop the TPP

On the 1st of June, labor activists and Wal-Mart associates protested outside the Ga Ave Wal-Mart. They were demanding that Wal-Mart re-instate the over 2,600 associates fired when five stores across the US were closed for "plumbing repairs." Pico Rivera, CA, one of the offending locations, was the target of Our Wal-Mart's very first walkout over wages. The closings appear to have actually been illegal retaliation for the demands for better wages and full-time or at least predictable schedules.

Related video-how Wal-Mart is killing small business on Ga Ave by taking away their parking