Why Los Angeles Teachers Endorsed Bernie
Los Angeles educators voted last week to endorse Bernie Sanders for president. Arlene Inouye of United Teachers Los Angeles speaks to us about the significance of their endorsement and why Sanders is the best candidate for the working class.
Educators, parents, students, and supporters of the Los Angeles teachers strike wave and cheer in Grand Park on January 22, 2019 in downtown Los Angeles, California. Scott Heins / Getty Images
After inspiring teachers and labor unions nationwide through its strike in January, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) continues to push the envelope. Last Thursday, UTLA — which represents 34,000 educators in the country’s second largest school district — took the unprecedented step of voting to endorse Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary. Jacobin’s Eric Blanc spoke with UTLA secretary Arlene Inouye about the political stakes of the endorsement.
Eric Blanc
UTLA is the first teachers’ union in the country to endorse a presidential candidate for the primary. Why did you decide to make this move?
Arlene Inouye
We’ve been so inspired by Bernie. Year after year, he’s shown us all his commitment to social transformation. He gives us hope for deep structural change and he’s really raised our expectations.
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