Earlier this year, a large coalition of Pennsylvanians came together around common goals of racial and economic justice in support of Democratic candidate for governor John Hanger. ? The Student Labor Action Project has chosen to join them and endorse John Hanger for governor, because on issues ranging from education to job creation, he puts the hardest-hit communities in Pennsylvania first. Hanger’s “People’s Campaign” is backed by a coalition of Philadelphia-based groups called Progressive Philly Rising, including Point Breeze Organizing Committee, Taxi Workers Alliance of Pennsylvania, Decarcerate PA and others.
As Penn students, although we may only be in Pennsylvania for four years, we can make an impact on Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania.
From the hundreds of Penn students who signed on to a petition to support Penn dining hall workers in their attempt join a union last year to many others who volunteer to mentor in Philadelphia schools or work on other service projects, we demonstrate our willingness and ability to make change in Philadelphia. Supporting a candidate for governor who prioritizes education, jobs, clean energy and democratic rights for all Pennsylvanians is just another way we can show our commitment to this city and state and make a lasting impact on the future of Pennsylvania.
John Hanger’s platform prioritizes human rights that are currently under attack, such as public education, good jobs and a healthy environment. One of its central features is to reverse $1 billion in funding cuts to Philadelphia public schools that happened under Governor Corbett and restore the school system to local hands.
In addition, Hanger plans to hold both public and charter schools accountable for performance issues, provide a mentoring plan for teachers to ensure that they have the necessary training, partner schools and businesses to allow students gain career experience and implement a program to allow community college access for all Pennsylvanians.
Many Penn students have first-hand experience working in Philadelphia schools and know how direly schools are in need of funding. Many of us have worked hard to mentor students and help fill in the gaps where the school system has been unable to provide. In addition to this, we must attack the root of the problem by supporting a governor who will prioritize public education as a basic right.
Hanger also plans to attack mass incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline, the trend in which students are pushed out of school and into the criminal justice system, by divesting in prisons and reinvesting in schools and communities.
Governor Tom Corbett decreased funding for schools while increasing funding for prisons, and incarceration rates climbed, especially for African-American men, many of whom had committed non-violent crimes such as drug offenses. Hanger’s plan to fund schools will help students stay in school and avoid the criminal justice system.
He also plans to attack prison overcrowding and excessive law enforcement spending by legalizing marijuana. Currently, Pennsylvania spends around $350 million a year arresting people for marijuana-related crimes, with blacks being arrested at five times the rate of whites (despite similar usage rates). By legalizing marijuana, Hanger plans to allocate this money to schools and stop the criminalization of young black men for marijuana possession.
“Just like all of us in this auditorium are connected, all of these issues are connected,” Hanger told a crowd gathered in Philadelphia to see the democratic candidates on Nov. 23. Seeing the issues so holistically is crucial to creating a stronger and more democratic Pennsylvania. Hanger also has a comprehensive plan to improve the economy that involves creating green jobs, strengthening labor unions and bringing manufacturing back to Pennsylvania. He supports marriage equality and a path to citizenship for immigrants.
Do you believe in a more just future for Pennsylvania? If you are in Pennsylvania on May 20, please join SLAP in standing with the people of Pennsylvania and voting for John Hanger.
The Student Labor Action Project at Penn seeks to promote economic justice through workers’ rights.
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