By NATALIE POMPILIO, Philadelphia Daily News
Hundreds of people protesting Gov. Corbett's proposed cuts to public education demonstrated outside Temple University's Liacouras Center today, chanting "We are one" and vowing to stop changes they consider draconian. "We will fight for the American dream. We will fight for justice," said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten as she rallied the crowd. "We are one today. We must be one tomorrow, and the next month and the month after."
The rally was one of many across the nation as different groups marked the anniversary of the 1968 slaying of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with civil actions of their own.
Corbett unveiled his proposed $27.3 billion budget last month. He has proposed eliminating $625 million, or 52 percent of state aid, for the 18 state-supported schools, including Temple. His budget also slashes more than $1 billion funding to public schools statewide. Philadelphia School District officials have said that would contribute to a proposed $629 million shortfall for the 2011-12 school year.
"I don't think enough people understand what the governor's proposal really means," said Art Hochner, president of Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP). "This would put college out of reach for a lot of people in this area."
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