Press Release - Students and Parents Plan Rally at Capitol Over Cuts to Public Education

Students and Parents Plan Rally at Capitol Over Cuts to Public Education

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 23, 2016) — As the current legislative session comes to its projected close and on the heels of several student organized walk-outs; a group of parents, students and educators are planning a large rally at the State Capitol on Thursday May 26 at 10:00a. "Let's Fix This," a nonpartisan political movement encouraging citizens to meet with their legislators, helped organize the rally along with the Oklahoma Parents and Educators for Public Education (OPEPE), the Douglass High School PTSA, and the Oklahoma Policy Institute.

Groups of students and parents from schools across the state will be meeting at Douglass High School at 9:00a to march to the Capitol, where they will gather inside to visit with legislators in hopes of encouraging them that it's not too late to do something for education funding. Participants are being encouraged to "Wear Red for Public Ed" and to bring apples for their representatives as a symbolic gesture for each teacher lost to budget cuts.

Douglass PTSA recognizes the importance of the parent’s voice and was instrumental in organizing parent groups for this rally. “It was important that we work together to demonstrate that every child deserves a quality education not only in Oklahoma City but across the state,” says Henderson Harris, Douglass PTSA President.

Angela Clark Little, co-founder of OPEPE, hopes that many will join the rally to show support, "Schools are currently being starved for resources,” she continues, "We are not headed for a crisis, we are in one. It's imperative that we stand up for our children and the educators who pour into their lives each day." As a public school parent, Clark Little co-leads OPEPE's group of 24,000 parents and educators from around the state. Their mission is to improve the level and accuracy of dialogue regarding public education. “This is our opportunity to show Oklahoma legislators how many of their constituents are aware they’re not making public education a priority in this state. They will see the faces of those whose lives they are altering with bad policy and continuous cuts to this core service.”

Andy Moore, organizer of the “Let’s Fix This” movement, recommends that those new to the process visit dosomethingok.org prior to the march; to familiarize and prepare for conversations about revenue recommendations the state can take to avoid harmful budget cuts. 

For more information on the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/558764144284337/

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LetsFixThisOK/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/letsfixthisok

###

Press Release: Students and Parents to March to The Capitol Wednesday

Students and Parents to March to The Capitol Wednesday

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 17, 2016) — Students of Classen SAS and their parents are planning on marching from their school at NW 18th and Ellison at 7:30 in the morning on Wednesday May 18, to the State Capitol in support of the social movement "Let's Fix This." The group of students came about after CSAS student Thomas Massenat discussed the budget cuts with his family, “it began as something small,” Massenat stated, “I was having a conversation with my family about the budget cuts’ infuriating nature. My sister Chloe and I decided that we should take action. We knew that the group ‘Let’s Fix This’ was meeting at the capitol on Wednesday, and that other schools in the district were staging their own protests earlier in the week.”

"Let's Fix This" is a non-partisan political movement that encourages citizens to be active and vocal with their legislators and helps educate the public on how to speak to their representatives. Oklahoma City resident Andy Moore started Let's Fix This as a grassroots effort to create more active participation among his friends and family, which quickly grew to hundreds of supporters and participants. Let's Fix This is meeting for the second time during this legislative session Wednesday morning in room 252 on the 2nd floor of the state Capitol. “This is a day for us regular folks who care about our state and our communities to take some time off of work and actually meet face-to-face with our legislators about the state budget crisis,” says Moore. He emphasizes that this isn’t a rally but rather a group outing for individuals to meet with their representatives.

Regarding the student march to the Capitol in the morning, Massenat says, “The purpose of our protest is to demonstrate to Oklahoma’s legislators the weight of their actions. Because of their refusal to pass legislation that will overcome the projected revenue shortfall of $1.3 billion, Oklahoma’s future generation is at risk. This shortfall has forced the OKCPS district to slash $30 million from its budget. What that looks like at my school of Classen SAS is teachers being fired, AP and IB testing funds disappearing, and cuts to the administrative staff. We fully support measures to counteract this deficit including rolling back tax cuts, closing tax loopholes, ending costly tax breaks, and selective tax increases on cigarettes and fuel.” Massenat continues, “As students we have the privilege of being the victims of these cuts, so it is imperative that we demand our legislators increase revenues instead of cutting programs. The strategies they have used in the past were ineffective. It’s time for Oklahoma to try something new.”

For more information on Let’s Fix This, visit the Facebook event for the 2nd meeting:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1719475578324114/

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LetsFixThisOK/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/letsfixthisok

Press Release: New Political Movement Encourages Citizens to Speak Up

New Political Movement Encourages Citizens to Speak Up

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 26, 2016) — This Wednesday, April 27 2016, a nonpartisan gathering of citizens is occurring at the state Capitol, organized by Oklahoma resident Andy Moore. “Let’s Fix This” aims to give people a voice with their legislators amid concerns over the state budget crisis.

Room 412A on the fourth floor of the Capitol has been secured on Wednesday thanks to Representative Jason Dunnington and his staff from 8:30am-9:30am and again from 12:30pm-1:15pm. Donuts, coffee, and bagels will be provided

“This is a day for us regular folks who care about our state and our communities to take some time off of work and actually meet face-to-face with our state legislators about the state budget crisis. We've all been complaining about stuff on social media long enough; now let's have the conversations in person.” said Moore. “The state may be broke, but we are not broken - there are a lot of totally reasonable, common-sense solutions for increasing revenue available. We just need to encourage our lawmakers toward them.”

The movement began with a simple thought from Moore that if enough people felt encouraged to visit with their legislators, potentially some positive changes would occur in policies and budget solutions. After creating a Facebook event one evening and inviting his friends, Moore witnessed the interest in the event skyrocket to nearly 600 people with at least 200 pledging to come. The event stirred the interest of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, a nonpartisan policy think tank, which further increased enthusiasm from the public.

Moore stresses that the event isn't a rally but rather a group outing, especially helpful for those who've never been to the Capitol before or who don't feel comfortable speaking to their representatives. Attendees to the event can expect "a bunch of regular folks just like you, who care deeply for the future of this great state" says Moore. "You can expect to meet some new people, it'll be relaxed and fun." If nothing else, Moore hopes that this movement will inspire more active participation from the public in politics.

For more information on Let’s Fix This, visit the facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/194682834247316/