Interview by Eric Blanc

Two weeks ago, district leaders in Rochester, New York, announced their plan to lay off 218 school employees — including 152 teachers — to make up for a $30 million deficit. The board is slated to vote on the proposed cuts this Thursday.

Last Monday, hundreds of students walked out to demand that all layoffs be canceled and that the state step in provide the necessary funding. More walkouts are planned for this week. Jacobin’s Eric Blanc spoke with the three main student organizers: twelfth-grader Madison Smith, eighth-grader Sarah Adams, and sixth-grader Maya Adams. All are students at East High School.