Activism and Education Advocacy Group’s Plans for May Day Protests

Defending Education, a group dedicated to combating perceived leftist indoctrination in K-12 public schools, has recently obtained and outlined documents detailing the strategies and talking points prepared for upcoming May Day protests across the country.

These protests are organized by various left-wing groups, including the Midwest Academy, which allegedly has received over $1.7 million from the National Education Association in recent years. The Academy is conducting a four-week training series called “Four Weeks of Power,” with involvement from the NYU Metro Center and alliances aimed at mobilizing parents, educators, and students to advocate for changes in public schools.

Although the event is backed by the NEA, the sessions are largely led by left-leaning organizations such as Free Your Future and the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools. The training will cover topics like community organizing in the context of increasing authoritarianism and will help participants develop action plans tailored to their communities.

Free the Future seems particularly invested in preparing activists for protests scheduled for May 1st, with promises of “hundreds of actions” planned for that day.

The Mayday Strong Toolkit lays out a series of actions intended for participants, suggesting demonstrations outside legislative offices and even “school raids” as ways to voice opposition to certain policies. Corporations like Hilton Hotels and Chevron are among those identified as targets for protest activities.

• “Tax the wealthy and prioritize their families, not their wealth.”
• “ICE is no good. War is no good. Private armies serving authoritarian powers are no good.”
• “Expand democracy, not corporate domination. Protect free and fair elections.”

The NEA has also crafted its own May Day toolkit, advocating for activities that mirror those proposed by Mayday Strong, including coordinated participation in school walk-ins. The NEA’s materials suggest these walks are opportunities for community discussions about desired changes in schools.

Ryen Staley, from Defending Education, expressed concern regarding these tactics. He remarked that utilizing schools as platforms for political agendas could endanger the safety and education of children. He emphasized that this approach is both unethical and inappropriate.

Corey DeAngelis, a researcher at the Heritage Foundation’s Education Policy Center, suggested that Congress should reconsider the NEA’s role and possibly eliminate its federal charter to prevent further political involvement. He noted that the actions of these groups may inadvertently promote homeschooling as a desirable option for many families.

In past remarks, NEA President Becky Pringle has indicated a commitment to challenging the previous administration’s policies, emphasizing a need for collective action that can liberate and sustain educational progress.