With right-wing politicians racing to arm teachers and making schools neighborhood fortresses, one wonders, why not ask teachers what they want?

Teachers in West Virginia will tell you what they want and it ain’t Glocks. Since Feb. 22, teachers there have walked out, demanding raises.*

Their demand is simple and to the point: no raise, no school.

Teachers had earlier negotiated a five percent raise after talks with the governor. The West Virginia Senate cut the raise out of the budget and teachers took to the streets.

It shows how politicians treat teachers as props rather than the hard working people that they are.

“No raise, no school” is beginning to echo far beyond the borders of the mountain state. Workers are beginning to awaken from their long nightmares. Kudos to the teachers. Power to the teachers.

From a prison nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.

*After this column was recorded by phone from Mahanoy prison in Frackville, Pennsylvania, the West Virginia teachers strike concluded. Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill granting the teachers and all of the state’s public employees a 5 percent raise. Inspired by events in West Virginia, teachers in Arizona, Kentucky and Oklahoma are considering taking strike measures as well.  

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Photo: Striking West Virginia teachers. Credit: @JeffJenkinsMN/Twitter