NEA, AFT Presidents Agree: We're 'With Her'

NEA, AFT Presidents Agree: We’re ‘With Her’

By Alyson Klein — July 25, 2016 1 min read

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Philadelphia

Both the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers gave Hillary Clinton an early and enthusiastic endorsement in her tough race against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders—to the chagrin of many of their members.

Lily Eskelsen García is the president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers’ union. The NEA projected a large, immediate drop in membership after an adverse Supreme Court ruling, but sizable losses have not yet materialized. — Lily Eskelsen García is the president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers’ union.
J. David Ake/AP

And on Monday, the first night of the Democratic National Convention here, both gave rousing speeches on Clinton’s behalf.

NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia made clear her view that Clinton would help immigrant students, unlike the man she’s up against in the general election, real estate mogul Donald Trump.

“My mom says that if you can’t say something nice about somebody, at least make it funny. But I can’t make this funny. Donald Trump sees immigrants as criminals, drug dealers, rapists. He’d round up families and deport them. He’d build a wall. We’re better than that. Our kids deserve better than that,” Eskelsen Garcia said. “Hillary Clinton doesn’t want to divide people with walls of hate. She wants to build bridges to a better future for all. That’s why America’s educators are with her!”

AFT President Randi Weingarten urges delegates in Detroit to propose solutions that unite "those we represent and those we serve."
Andre J. Jackson/Detroit Free Press

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, hit similar themes. First, she attacked Trump University, a real-estate education organization run by the Republican nominee that’s now being sued by its former students for fraud.

“Just look at how he operates,” Weingarten said. “Instead of an education, students lost thousands of dollars and got nothing in return. He is completely unqualified to be the in the Oval Office.”

Clinton, on the other hand, “has a plan for universal early-childhood education,” she said. “She’ll reset education to focus on creativity, not overtesting. Hillary is the most qualified president to run for president in our lifetime.”