On Tuesday, March 4, educators, students, parents, and community supporters participated in more than 2,000 events and social media actions nationwide. These events were part of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) “Protect Our Kids” Day of Action, aimed at opposing the harmful actions of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk that threaten public schools. The AFT, representing 1.8 million members, called on lawmakers to stand up for students and reject policies that could harm millions of children in order to fund tax breaks for the wealthy.
The proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Education by Trump and Musk would severely impact low-income children, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students. AFT President Randi Weingarten, speaking at a virtual news conference on Tuesday, warned that these cuts could force communities to raise property taxes to maintain essential services for vulnerable students.
“We’re taking from one group to benefit another,” Weingarten said. “It’s reckless and cruel to harm schoolchildren in this way. Kids need these resources, and we’ve worked hard to secure them.”
The nationwide events focused on defending and expanding support for public schools, ensuring that all students can thrive. These included a virtual teach-in in Detroit, a rally at the New York State Capitol in Albany, a “clap-in” for students in Cincinnati, “walk-ins” in Chicago and Albuquerque, N.M., letter writing in Pittsburgh and Fairfax County, Va., and press conferences in Florida, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico.
“The message is simple: We cannot rob students of the education they deserve just to give tax cuts to the rich,” Weingarten said, reflecting on her visits to events in Albany and New Haven, Conn. “Across the country, parents and teachers are coming together to say our kids need these services. We cannot afford to cut them.”
In Cincinnati, protesters gathered outside Vice President JD Vance’s home. Vance, who wrote about his impoverished upbringing in Ohio in his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, was criticized by Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper for supporting tax breaks for the wealthy while neglecting working-class communities. “It’s unacceptable,” Cropper said during the virtual conference.
National Education Association President Becky Pringle emphasized that Americans value their public schools and want more funding, not less. AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang added that federal support is crucial to providing the services students deserve.
Trump’s proposed cuts would have disastrous effects on 26 million students living in poverty who depend on Title I programs for literacy and math skills. These cuts could also threaten special education services that 7.5 million children with disabilities rely on.
Rachelle Crow-Hercher, co-director of the Michigan Education Justice Coalition, shared her personal story during the news conference. Her daughter, who had a stutter, benefited from seven years of speech and language therapy at her public school. “Without funding for special education, families like mine will lose critical services,” Crow-Hercher said. “No billionaire’s tax break is worth sacrificing our children’s education.”
The Trump administration’s policies also threaten career and technical education programs, which serve 12 million students, and cuts to Pell grants and student loans could make college unaffordable for 10 million working-class families. The administration’s push for private school vouchers could divert public funds to private, unaccountable institutions.
Sonia Vasquez-Luna, an executive board member of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, highlighted the impact of these cuts on Latino students. She warned that eliminating school counselors and social workers could leave many families without the support they need. “This isn’t just a distant policy—it’s a direct attack on the future of our communities,” Vasquez-Luna said.
Through these events, the AFT made it clear that protecting public schools and the students they serve remains a top priority for educators, parents, and communities across the nation.
