In 2015 my wife, Jeena Lee Walker, a New York City high school teacher, was fired by her school in retaliation for teaching her students about the Central Park 5 - a group of teenagers who spent years in prison for a terrible crime they did not commit. In admonishing Jeena for teaching the lesson, her administrators warned that such material could "rile up" her students and cause "mini-riots."

Jeena is fighting her termination in court. Her case touches on issues concerning the free speech rights of teachers, as well as how race and class impact what students are taught in the classroom.

However, fighting the case isn't free. The New York City Department of Education has signaled that they intend to drag things out. Their lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss in which they claim, among other things, that school administrators' fears that teaching the Central Park 5 lesson could incite "physical unrest" among students were "legitimate." 

As difficult as it is to ask for, we could use any help you are able to give towards paying for legal fees going forward. The Department of Education has the luxury of dragging this case out without concern for time or money, but we do not.

Jeena and I would be most thankful for your support.

Sincerely,

Cory Walker

Links to media coverage:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-school-censor-central-park-lesson-lawyers-article-1.2659134

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/central-park-member-defends-axed-teacher-article-1.2490175

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-teacher-fired-lessons-central-park-article-1.2489687

http://pix11.com/2016/01/11/ny-teacher-fired-for-including-central-park-five-case-in-school-curriculum/