Students and Families Volunteer to Carry Out Campaign to Defend Threatened TRIO Programs from Bush’s Latest Attack

San Francisco – A handful of enthusiastic and energetic supporters of the Upward Bound and Talent Search programs took to the streets Saturday evening, February 11th, 2006 to protest the White House administration’s proposal to eliminate Upward Bound, Talent Search and GEAR UP from the federal budget 2007. The group of demonstrators mostly students and family members of TRIO participants marched, carried signs, distributed informational leaflets and secured signatures for a petition calling for congressional opposition to Bush’s planned cuts. The protest occurred at the Chinese New Year Parade in downtown San Francisco where nearly a half million people crowded the streets of San Francisco.

The contingent of protestors was organized by local members of the Concerned Citizens in Defense of Federal TRIO Programs. Securing hundreds of petition signatures the students, TRIO alumni and friends and family members exhibited remarkable dedication and showed tremendous passion in their effort to bring education to the masses about the plight of Talent Search and Upward Bound. They have vowed to continue their efforts at defeating Bush’s proposal and have organized a Teach-In scheduled for March 3rd, at the U.C. Berkeley campus.