On May 30, students in New Haven, Connecticut took a bold stance against what they perceive as detrimental policies from the Trump administration by staging a walkout.
Organized by members of Socialist Alternative, the walkout saw hundreds of high school students from at least six local schools march in protest, demanding an end to the right-wing attacks on education.
The protest drew approximately 300 students who gathered at the New Haven Green before marching towards Yale University’s campus to advocate for the university to pay its property taxes, which organizers claim could significantly benefit the city’s public schools.
Students voiced their demand for fully-funded and well-staffed schools, as well as fair compensation and support for teachers to combat the ongoing educator shortage.
Additionally, the protesters expressed solidarity with their trans and immigrant peers, advocating for gender-affirming facilities, the establishment of equitable sports teams, and a refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement authorities.
Adrianna, a student from Career High School, articulated the motivation behind the walkout: “I walked out for school funding and to tax the rich…[for the] people who are struggling to put food on the table.”
Voicing similar frustrations, a group of students highlighted the dire conditions in their schools, stating, “Our schools are literally falling apart. We have bathrooms that aren’t working, broken ACs, and our teachers are leaving. We want change!”
Concerns regarding the impact of teacher shortages were emphatically expressed: “I’m sick of going into classes with no teacher there and no substitute.”
The flyer for the walkout outlined the alarming reality facing New Haven Public Schools. It cited a $14.5 million budget shortfall impacting essential services and personnel, including the layoff of 120 staff members.
The flyer further stated, “If Yale paid their property taxes, that would be $150 million more per year,” emphasizing a potential solution to the district’s funding crisis.
Several influential speakers addressed the crowd during the rally, including Leslie Blateau, the president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, as well as a former NHPS student and member of Socialist Alternative, Jen P.
Student organizers shared personal experiences about the deteriorating conditions of their educational facilities, lack of updated resources, and how chronic underfunding hampers their educational outcomes long-term.
Makayla Spell, another student, addressed the stark contrast between Yale and New Haven Public Schools, remarking, “I’m sure they have all nice bathrooms… We don’t have soap in our bathrooms.”
To prepare for the walkout, the Socialist Alternative engaged student representatives from the schools to discuss the pressing budget deficit facing the New Haven Public Schools.
Past experience with organizing similar events helped activists establish a citywide coalition, facilitating coordination through school-based committees.
Flyers were distributed widely leading up to the event, including bilingual materials aimed at fostering conversations about the necessities for improving school conditions.
When school authorities issued threats regarding academic repercussions for participating in the walkout, organizers encouraged students to view mass action as a powerful form of resistance against such intimidation.
During the rally, Jen recounted her own experiences as a student within the NHPS, mentioning how budget cuts in 2018 led to the closure of her magnet school, which predominantly served Black and brown students.
She noted that students organized a successful walkout during that incident, uniting their school community against inequitable treatment.
Jen also highlighted the systemic issues underpinning such closures: “This is part of the inherent violence of this capitalist system, which relies on putting down poor black and brown working people and youth for the benefit of the billionaire class.”
She articulated the need for a new political movement that prioritizes the interests of working-class and youth populations.
“We need to build a socialist movement for a society where the economy is democratically run by the people, for the people—not for profit,” Jen stated.
The rally received positive feedback and resonated with many students, emphasizing the importance of collective action to combat educational inequities.
New Haven Socialist Alternative plans to conduct a follow-up public meeting to discuss strategies for continuing the momentum gained during the walkout and mobilizing for lasting change.
The organization aims to highlight the critical nature of walkouts such as this, advocating for a robust movement that demands accountability from wealthier institutions and businesses in the community.
As these students demonstrate, their determination to fight against systemic inequities in education is a powerful call for change, one that has already begun to reverberate throughout New Haven and beyond.
image source from：https://internationalsocialist.net/en/2025/05/united-states
