#RedForEd supporters are not backing down after the Arizona Supreme Court struck down their initiative doubling taxes for Arizona's wealthiest and establishing a sustainable funding source for education.
A crowd rallied outside the Arizona Chamber of Commerce building Wednesday angry that its lawsuit intercepted the #RedForEd campaign's initiative.
One protestor outside the chamber hollered through a microphone outside the chamber's window's, "We want the chamber to know that we value democracy," he told a cheering crowd, "And, just because you can get a lawsuit to get a prop knocked off the ballot doesn't mean that our voice is silent."
The chamber claimed it would harm businesses and raise taxes on everyone.
In killing the initiative, student activist Jacob Martinez explained why his school needs a sustainable funding source.
"I'm in a class with 35, almost 40 people," he said. "I have classes where there's not even enough desks for all of the students, and people have to sit on the ground or double up on desks."
Nancy Schwartz, a library media specialist, said teachers are taking note and will not support lawmakers who do not pledge to secure funding for education prior to the November election.
"We have a pledge, we're talking to candidates and we're having them pledge to support a secure funding line and those candidates [who] will pledge and support that, we're going to get behind them."
#RedForEd coordinators predict the 270,000 voters who backed their original initiative will likely follow.
