PRESS RELEASE
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
Contact:
Janna Powell 484-695-1204
powelljanna@gmail.com
EDUCATION ACTIVISTS TAKE TO PHILADELPHIA FOR OCCUPY NATIONAL GATHERING
Actions meant to raise awareness of out-of-control student debt and prompt nationwide protest
PHILADELPHIA – Congress has announced a year-long extension on a bill that will keep interest rates on federally subsidized Stafford loans at 3.4%. Although some are rejoicing that interest rates will not be doubled in the next year, students are still graduating with more debt than most are able to pay in their lifetime. Outstanding student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion. This enormous debt burden, which has surpassed credit card and auto debt, continues to surge at a rapid rate, while high rates of unemployment and underemployment persist for recent grads. All in the Red, a New York-based activist collective, will be in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 1st in solidarity with the Occupy National Gathering to declare that Congress’ vote to maintain the status-quo is not enough. All in the Red invites people from all walks of life to join us this Sunday on the Independence Mall in a series of actions that will expose the negative changes for the 2012-2013 school year that will take effect July 1st: decreased eligibility for Pell Grants; elimination of subsidized loans for graduate students; and drastically lowered income limits of estimated family contribution, which will cut funding for many low-income students. All in the Red is calling for a nationwide network to spread awareness and organize around the issue of student debt through direct action, political theatre, and spreading the visual imagery of the red square, which has become an international symbol of the struggle for affordable education. The attack on education in the United States hampers access to quality, affordable education. Join us in fighting back!
For additional information, contact allinthered@gmail.com
Twitter: @AllInTheRed
Facebook: All in the Red
Website: www.allinthered.org
###
