Online Advocacy Toolkit
We #CantStopWontStop
While state leaders are working rapidly to respond to COVID-19, they are also working to finalize a budget before April 1st. For eight years, New York has passed State budgets favoring billionaires and corporations, leaving public schools vulnerable to this crisis. Enough is enough! The current public health crisis has exposed the long term effects of underfunding critical programs that keep our communities healthy and safe.
Although we have cancelled all of our in person actions, we must continue to fight for racial justice in school funding. That is why we are launching #CantStopWontStop — an online mobilization plan designed to continue our fight for racial justice digitally. Join us today, March 17 at 12 PM for our kickoff Education Virtual Rally as we call on state leaders to protect kids, not millionaires!
Action #1 | Post a Photo
Hold a sign saying”Tax Billionaires, Fund Schools” and post on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter with the hashtag #CantStopWontStop.
Action #2 | Post a video
Take a 1-minute video on why school funding is important to you and post on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter with the hashtag #CantStopWontStop.
SAMPLE Graphics
Download graphics for social media to your computer.
Or tap and hold on the images below to save them to your phone:
Sample Social Media Posts
Below are sample messages you can copy and paste to post from your own social media accounts. If you have Twitter, you can just the Click to Tweet option and it will copy the text into a window — all you have to do is click “Tweet”! Let’s make #CantStopWontStop trend!
While state leaders work to respond to #COVID19, they are also working to finalize a state budget by April 1. That’s why I #CantStopWontStop fighting for racial justice in education funding. @AndreaSCousins, @CarlHeastie, will you #TaxTheRich and #FundNYSchools?
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It shouldn’t be a privilege for students to have a nurse in school. The #Covid19 crisis has revealed how years of underfunding make some schools more vulnerable than others. @AndreaSCousins @ShellyBMayer will you #TaxTheRich and #FundNYSchools https://bit.ly/38KUbxF
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The #Covid19 pandemic shows the systemic inequities built into our education system. As schools shut down, some schools will seamlessly integrate online learning, most will not. It’s time we #TaxTheRich and #FundNYSchools. @AndreaSCousins @CarlHeastie @ShelleyBMayer
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#Covid19 has uncovered the deep divide in access to tech, nurses, and the basics like soap & water between schools. In a pandemic, the well being of ALL students should be prioritized. @AndreaSCousins @CarlHeastie will you #TaxTheRich and give our students the funding they deserve?
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The #covid19 pandemic has made it Clear that Black, Brown & low- income students in NY are vulnerable in a state of crisis. WE need @AndreaSCousins and @CarlHeastie to chose to protect our students over millionaires #TaxTheRich @AQE_NY
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.@AndreaSCousins, @CarlHeastie- Where are your priorities? Is it to protect the ultra rich, or is to protect communities and #FundNYSchools? Vowing to tax the ultra rich is how we protect NY Students in times of crisis. #TaxTheRich #MakeBillionairesPay
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Action #3 | Call your Legislators
Use this to script to call your State Senator and Assemblymember at their offices at the State Capitol. You can use your address to look up your State Senator and Assemblymember and their contact information.
Call Script:
My name is [your name] and I live in [your region].
I’m not coming to Albany today, but wanted you to know that New York schools need the $3.8 billion in Foundation Aid they are owed. Will you be a champion for fully funding our public schools during the 2020 state budget?
Historically, schools have been used as places of refuge and safety in times of natural disasters and crisis. They are the hearts of our communities. Closing down the entire system has created a new set of challenges. Our schools must have the resources they need to address these new circumstances.
By raising taxes on the ultra rich, New York State can ensure there is enough money in the budget to fully fund our schools. Can I count on you to be a champion for public schools?