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Students at Alexander Hamilton Senior High school in Los Angeles walked out of their classes en masse earlier this month. The public school students weren’t playing hooky – they were protesting the lay off notices that their teachers received. About 7000 LAUSD employees have been sent pink slips in anticipation of major cuts to public education and the school kids were upset about crucial positions in teaching, counseling, and more being cut. The walkout was sparked by a Facebook post from one of the students in response to the news of a layoff notice for one of their teachers. With the support of teachers and parents, the students took charge, and, peacefully made their voices heard. There were news reports of students from Manual Arts High School in South LA, and Belvedere Middle School in East LA joining Hamilton students in solidarity. LA’s public school system faces major cuts as a result of a budget deficit that Governor Jerry Brown is currently attempting to address through extending a tax increase for five more years. Brown was hoping for a special election in June for voters to decide on the extension but has been stymied by the state’s Republican minority.

GUESTS: Olivia Natt, Sophie Trauberman, seniors at Alexander Hamilton Senior High in Los Angeles

Visit the Hamilton High Students at http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=187241704650624