Archival Images

2013 Protests

Spring and early Summer 2013 – the final year of Lafayette with the last day of school on Wednesday, June 19th, 2013. The community did not give in without a fight and did whatever they possibly could in attempt to keep Lafayette open for the children and families of the neighborhood. This resistance included a sit-in on the last day of school by the Vega-Ramos family. During an occupation inside of a first floor classroom in attempt to keep the school open, 100s gathered on Augusta cheering in support – chanting and cheering. Not only did their family face resistance from CPD, but endured tactics like turning on the heat of the classroom in attempt to remove their family from the building. Unfortunately, the school still was 1 of the 50 school closed that year, the largest public school closure at a moment in time in US history. It should always be known that this closure never once came with ease, but months of organized protests, resistance, rallies, petitions and outspokenness at community meetings. All of this was not only done out of the love for Lafayette as an ecosystem, but a knowing of how a school closure destabilizes community and expedites gentrification/displacement of longterm residents.