Rally highlights Flint, Michigan Water, and Detroit Public Schools woes for President Obama visit

Story by Detroit Free Press
Written by Robert Allen

About 200 teachers,, nurses, and others are protesting outside Cobo Center today, demanding the ouster of Gov. Rick Snyder. Carrying signs criticizing Snyder for lead-tainted water in Flint and dangerous building conditions in Detroit public schools, the protesters timed the march to coincide with today's visit by President Barack Obama to the North American International Auto Show inside Cobo Center. Detroit police have not interfered with the protest, other than to tell marchers to keep moving and not block traffic.

Protesters march outside Cobo Center in Detroit, on Jan. 20, 2016.(Photo: Robert Allen, Detroit Free Press)

The protest began this morning with a rally of about 75 teachers outside the headquarters of AFSCME on Lafayette Boulevard where state Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit, called Snyder's state reform school district, the Educational Achievement Authority, a "separate, unequal experiment on black children."

The rally came as 88 Detroit public schools were closed today by teacher sick-outs. Teachers have been calling in sick in recent weeks in an effort to highlight problems in the district including overcrowded classrooms and building conditions they say are dangerous for students and staffers.

DPS's emergency manager, Darnell Earley said earlier this month that the district could run out of cash by April or May if the State doesn't help. Last week, Snyder introduced legislation to help DPS, though critics insist it doesn't go far enough.