Marching for California’s Future

by Sravani Banerjee, EVC Faculty, Council of Division Reps.

On Saturday, April 10^th several of us from San Jose City College and Evergreen Valley College joined the march for California’s future. We had a small but lively contingent of marchers including David Yancey, Debbie De La Rosa, Dorothy Pucay, Barbara Hanfling, Kieron Connolly and Sravani Banerjee amongst others.

We were marching to:

• Reclaim the promise of quality public education and services

• Rebuild state government so it works for everyone

• Restore fair and equitable taxes to invest in California’s future

It was a beautiful, balmy, spring day as we walked through rural French Camp into downtown Stockton. We walked about 8 miles accompanied by The Brass Liberation Organization, a band of saxophone players and drummers from San Francisco playing upbeat jazz tunes, singing Des Colores, and chanting “Tax the rich and not the poor” and “Si Se Puede!”

It was energizing to be greeted by people passing by and to be applauded by young families as we walked through some low-income neighborhoods, but the highlight of the march was meeting the other marchers, some of whom had been on the road for 36 days. Such passion, such motivation, and such commitment to the cause—it was truly inspiring.

Our march ended in downtown Stockton at a barbeque hosted by the San Joaquin and Calaveras Central Labor Council. Happily exhausted, we enjoyed some salad and chicken as we (very appropriately) listened to California Dreaming.