Sharpton Coming to Rally Supporting Tanya McDowell [Update]
The state and Norwalk branches of the N.A.A.C.P. are organizing a rally "to fix the broken educational system" June 7 at Brookside Elementary School, with the Tanya McDowell case as the centerpiece.
Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the civil rights organization National Rights Network.
Photos (3)
Photos
Update
Civil rights proponent Al Sharpton will be a speaker at Tuesday's rally, according to Jack Bryant, a member of the Stamford chapter of the NAACP.
Sharpton, 56, is a Baptist minister and president of the Harlem-based National Action Council, a civil rights organization.
Original Story
The state conference of the NAACP, together with the Norwalk NAACP branch are hosting an "Equal Education for All" rally at Brookside Elementary School on June 7 in connection with the Tanya McDowell case.
McDowell is the mother who was arrested on felony larceny charges last month after enrolling her child at the school last year. Law enforcement officials said McDowell was a resident of Bridgeport, although she says she was homeless with strong ties to Norwalk. Her case has received some national attention.
The rally will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school, located at 382 Highland Ave.
According to organizers of the rally, "We rally to advance human rights, civil rights, equal protection, and dignity for all. [...] We rally to fix the broken educational system—because no child should live in fear that their parent will be arrested for trying to get them a decent education."
Correction: Earlier versions of this story had the wrong address for the rally at Brookside Elementary School: It's 382 Highland Ave., not 82. The error was also made in the flyer announcing the event (see picture attached to this article).
ted hansen
9:46 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
If I want to send my kids to New Canaan schools instead of Norwalk where I pay taxes , will someone arrange a rally for me ?
It is my understanding that defendant dealt drugs in Norwalk but resided in Bridgeport
John Frank
8:28 pm on Sunday, June 5, 2011
Al Sharpton apparently believes there is de-facto racial discrimination at work in this case. He doesn't need to prove it was intentional or systemic. Based on the facts published about this case, he feels an obligation to come to Norwalk and raise the question. If the mayor had not made the comments he made, the claim could be made that this case was an unintended anamoly. The fact that people here think she has bank robbery charges pending demonstrates the damage he did with talk about prior arrests.
Anybody going to have an answer to convince Sharpton, and everybody else, that it isn't what it looks like ?
Lisa Wilson Grant
9:06 pm on Sunday, June 5, 2011
It can't be 82 Highland Avenue, as that is on the southern end of Highland in Rowayton, probably you mean 382
David Gurliacci
9:27 am on Monday, June 6, 2011
Lisa, you're right. The notice got it wrong and I never checked the address. Fixed now. I've even provided a map on the right side of the page.
MARK YANKEE
10:02 pm on Sunday, June 5, 2011
This is theft of services case, not a racial case what is Al Sharpton doing with this. If Tanya McDowell
is homeless why can't she be homeless in Norwalk then her child would be able to go to school here.
I don't have any children in the school system any more, but if Ms. McDowell gets away with this
then we should be able to get in line for our $15,000.00
Lisa Thomson
7:00 am on Monday, June 6, 2011
I respect Al Sharpton, but he has been given bad data. With a 44% free and reduced lunch population and a school district that is roughly 1/3 white, 1/3 hispanic and 1/3 black...this is the WRONG school district to claim discrimination. Once again, national level politicians are being as disingenuous about education reform as our local ones are. Until EVERYONE is held accountable for their actions in 2011: parents, unions and politicians (read OUR SOCIETY) we must ALL bear the responsibility for the state of our US educational system. Reverend Sharpton, where are you when we need to talk about 1) evaluations 2) LIFO 3) parent responsibility, 4) student funding.....these are the accountability issues that hurt children of color!
It seems so ignorant & disgenuous to boil such a complicated issue down to RACE! Athough it does attract the media :)
deotha woodburn
5:23 pm on Sunday, June 12, 2011
there's a word for people like you,it's call HYPOCRITE.
deotha woodburn
5:32 pm on Sunday, June 12, 2011
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO OPEN YOUR MOUTHS ABOUT THE MILLLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS CRIMINAL PARENTS AND THEIR CRIMINAL CHILDREN STUDENTS,STEALING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER PUBLIC RESOURCES,FROM AMERICANS,PARTICULARY AFRICAN AMERICANS. MS. MC DOWELL IS NOT A THIEF, FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IT'S CALL BUSING.REMEMBER THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.DR. KING AND OTHERS DID NOT GIVE THEIR BLOOD AND LIVES FOR NOTHING.THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST WORDS.MS. MC DOWELL,STAY STRONG AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.DEE WOODBURN.
deotha woodburn
5:45 pm on Sunday, June 12, 2011
OH YEAH! AND WE DON'T NEED NO AL SHARPTON.HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS,IN 50 YEARS. MAYBE HE NEEDS TO TAKE A CUE FROM O JESSIE,AND GO SIT DOWN. THE ONLY TIME SHARPTON SHOWS HIS FACE, FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, IS WHEN HE NEEDS A PHOTO- OP,OR HE THINKS THERE'S SOMETHING IN IT FOR HIM. MOVE OVER SHARPTON THE SISTER'S ARE GOING TO HANDLE THIS ONE. WE ARE TIRED AND WE'VE HAD ENOUGH. DR. KING,BROTHER MALCOLM, ADAM, MEDGAR,HARRIET, SOJOUNER,FANNIE LOU ROSA ETC,ETC,ETC,WILL GIVE US THE STRENGTH,AND SPIRIT WE NEED. WE ARE CALLING ON OUR ANCESTORS,AND THEY HAVE ANSWERS.