Speakers:
MTA Vice President Tim Sullivan
Mayor Scott Lang
Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council,President Cindy Rodrigues
City Councilor President, Joe Lopes
City Councilor David Alves
City Councilor Brian Gomes
City Councilor Steve Martins
City Councilor Henry Bousquet
S. E. MA & RI Coalition to Save Our Schools, President Jose Soler
Fall River Educators’, President Rebecca Cussack
Friend of educators, Leo Choquette
Barbra Madeloni, Educators for a Democratic Union
Friend of educators, Ian Abreu
Retired Educator, Nancy smith
Local 1199 S.E.I.U. Organizer Lisa Lemieux
President Brian Fitzgerald, Wareham Education Association
President Leonard Zalauskas, Educational Association of Worcester
Supporters of NBEA:
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council
Acushnet Teachers Association
AFSCME Council 93
Andover Education Association
Attleboro Education Association
Auburn Education Association
Bedford Education Association
Berkshire Educator Action Network
Bridgewater-Raynham Education Association
Brockton Education Association
Brookline Educators Union
Cambridge Education Association
Citizens for Public Schools
Dedham Education Association
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Teachers Association
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Teachers Association
Dracut Teachers Association
Education Association of Plymouth Carver
Educational Association of Worcester
Educational Association of Worcester
Fairhaven Educators Association
Fall River Educators’ Association
Fall River Fighters L1314
Framingham Teachers Association
Lee Education Association
Lexington Education Association
Massachusetts Jobs with Justice
Marshfield Education Association
Milton Educators Association
New Bedford Firefighters 841
Newton Teachers Association
Newton Teachers Association
Quincy Education Association, Inc.
Old Rochester Professional Educators Association
Service Employees International Union 1199
Somerville Teachers Association
Somerset Teachers Association
S. E. MA Merged Branch 18, National Association of Letter Carriers
Springfield Education Association
Steelworkers local 1357
Teamsters Local 59
Taunton Education Association
Truro Education Association
UAW Ma State CAP Council
UAW Local 470 Avon, MA
UAW Local 1596 Canton MA (Large Amalgamated) with members in Fall River & NB
UAW Local 2324 Boston
UAW Local 422 Framingham
UAW Local 2320 Legal Services
UAW Local 2322 Holyoke
UAW Local 1981 Writers Union
UMass Boston chapter board of the Professional Staff Union/MTA/NEA
Wachusett Regional Education Association
Waltham Educators Association
Waltham Educators Association
Wareham Education Association
Watertown Educators Association
New Bedford Educators Association 
Thanks to you, Lou! Someday, I know that you will be the leader of a South American country. You are a cross between fidel castro and john travolta.
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WOW…that is quite a list…THANK YOU ALL! NBEA will answer your call if and when needed. UNITED! Democracy is more fragile today than we may realize.
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Sorry, Lou, but you forgot Ward 5 City Councilor Kerry Winterson who was there throughout the entire rally. Thank you Mr. Winterson for your support!
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The list above shows the speakers at the rally. Mr, Winterson was at the rally but he did not speak.
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Mr. Winterson, Tony Cabral and Jim Oliveira were thanked for attending the rally at the rally.
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Not one school commitee person, including Josh Amaral, attended the rally.
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Sorry, to nit-pick but to my recollection Mr. Martins may have been asked to speak however he was not in attendance. Mr. Winterson was on the steps with his fellow councilors.
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Where's Drolet?
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I'm sure the mayor placed a call to Josh Amaral asking him not to attend.
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I hope Josh doesn't wimp out!
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So very disappointed in Josh Amaral! This was the perfect time to stand tall and show his support for the teachers of New Bedford and their union. HE BLEW IT!!!Guess he's forgotten about the support given TO HIM by the teachers/union when campaigning for the School Committee. My question is: WHO GOT TO HIM????? He has made it clear as to where he stands!! What a shame, we thought he was different…..thought he had a backbone!
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Lou, need a “Your Thoughts” headliner.
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I have to commend Mr. Lapre for doing a great job MC-ing at the rally. The only question I would have to ask is why didn't he introduce the other members of the board/cabinet after he identified himself and his position. They were there….it would have been nice if they had been recognized.
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Thank you, thank you to everyone and organization who supported us. Quite an impressive listing of supporters and speakers. This is just the beginning, and we must continue to stand strong and united, attend School Committee meetings, and speak out and up for what we as a district need which this superintendent, mayor, and school committee are not providing–discipline, books, materials, and updated technology.
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Lou read a letter from Councilor Martins stating that he was unable to attend the rally but supports the educators. Councilor Martins was in attendance at the opening of the Riverbank Lofts located in his ward. If that hadn't happened at the same time as the rally, I am sure that Steve would have been and spoken at the rally.
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FYI- Josh Amaral's FB post at 1:21 pm on Friday:I can't make it to today's rally, but I stand in spirit with educators unfairly demonized by this process. I understand the trepidation that comes with such drastic change. I'm hopeful that there will be a positive result that's best for the kids and satisfies everyone. A successful turnaround won't be possible without great teachers that are motivated to be part of the change, and it also won't be possible without myriad changes that address decades of faults in our system and provides those teachers with the support they've been denied in the past. There are many rumors about this process out there, and I'm hoping we can find clarity and a sound solution soon. Trust that I'm doing my best to hear both sides and push for a fair and equitable outcome.
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Even though we elected him, lets all remember that Josh is still a kid. He is going to need “some” time to figure things out. As he matures into the position you'll then get a chance to evaluate whether or not he is capable of making sound common sense decisions or asking the “right” questions in order to lead in the “right” discussions. It will be when Josh gets into his first or second disagreement with the superintendent, mayor, or sc member will you see his character, and character is not measured by age, it is measured by conviction and the ability to think clearly, and respond in a manner that perpetuates leadership. I do not envy Josh.
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I am sorry if anyone feels that they did not receive the proper amount of recognition at Friday's event.Mr. Winterson was mentioned later because I was not aware he was present.Further, I was given an agenda with seventeen speakers, a list of “thank yous” that had to be read, and other acknowledgements. All of this was supposed to be accomplished within one hour.Just as Mr. Soler approached the podium, I was informed that our battery-powered equipment could go down at any time. Some tough decisions had to be made at that point as to make the best use of the remaining resources.Many things were happening behind the scenes. If everything looked professional, then I did my job.Thanks to Bryan Hancock, Joanne Arena, and Cindy Rodrigues of the Labor Council for their help in the closing minutes. I must also thank Rui and Dominique Branco for transportation to and from City Hall.
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The Josh post was nice, but no reason was given as to why he could not attend. Councilor Martins gave a reason, not sure it was MORE important than the rally, but he did give an excuse. Teachers must collect a note for absences!
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Mayor Mitchell should have spoke so people / unions could tell him to his face he”s trying to bust the unions. With this superintendent he hired. Lou you and staff did a great job to let the public know what was happing.
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