Philly Activists Fast for Education Funding
Photo Credit: POWER Philadelphia
POWER Philly is in Harrisburg for 10 days to pray, fast and meet with state legislators with the hope of getting fair funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools into the state budget, which is supposed to be completed and signed by June 30th.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be here fasting and getting involved,” Sheila Armstrong, a POWER activist told Philly Mag this week. “I’m a woman of faith, a Christian, and I told my sons, ‘This is a missionary trip. We are doing God’s work.'”
POWER is one of many activist groups that — along with interfaith congregations across the state — has been gathering in Harrisburg since Saturday to sing, pray, and attempt influence legislators to pass a state budget that includes the ample funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools. They join a group of around 20 interfaith lay leaders who have been in Harrisburg since March to advocate on the issue.
The “Fast for Family Values” movement can be followed using the #MoralTakeover hashtag on social media.
Armstrong said she got involve when her sons’ school was shut down in the first wave of Philly school closures three years ago: “It’s very stressful and nerve-wracking to not know if your kid’s school is going to be open or not in September. Who’s going to watch my kids while I’m at work?” she said.
“Our children deserve great education. Why are we hurting them?” she asked, adding “Our kids are our future. No matter what you call it, we put them into the world. They didn’t choose to be here, but they’re our future job market — our politicians, doctors, lawyers. What kind of future do we have if they’re not educated the right way?”
“For 20 years in Pennsylvania, there’s been racial discrimination in the way schools are funded,” she added.”We’ve hit rock bottom. This is rock bottom.”
On June 20, the first day of the main event, 300 people of Christian, Jewish and Islamic faith attended a mass consecration on the Capitol steps. Each day since then, a different religious group from Pennsylvania has traveled to Harrisburg to join the protest and the fasting.
The state budget is due, by law, on June 30 — thought it appears legislators will breeze past the deadline. A bipartisan Basic Education Funding Committee recently released a recommendation that would increase funding to schools across the state.
Armstrong hopes legislators will heed voters and protesters. “The children are innocent victims. We, as adults, are the ones who can and must vote.”
You can view video of the action below:
