Parents Gather in the Rain Demanding SHSAT Exam

In the rain and cold, dozens of Queens families gathered on the steps of Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School 74 alongside several elected officials to protest Mayor Bill De Blasio's attempts at canceling the SHSAT and eliminating citywide Gifted and Talented programs.

David Rem, a father of a Hispanic-American daughter who now attends Stuyvesant High School, highlighted De Blasio's hypocrisy. "The mayor sent his son, Dante, to Brooklyn Technical, a specialized high school, and he sent his daughter, Chiara, to Beacon, one of the finest academically screened public high schools in Manhattan. His kids are done and now he's taking these opportunities away from our children."

Rem, wearing a "Fire Carranza" t-shirt that also called the chancellor a "corrupted racist," added, "And where did the criminal Carranza send his own children? They graduated from Lowell, a screened public magnet high school, known as the 'Stuyvesant' of San Francisco."

Rem went on to add that filing a lawsuit is the only legal way to "prod" De Blasio to set a date to administer the state-mandated SHSAT. "They are criminals, sending our children out into the world, having just robbed them of a meaningful education, a legitimate education."

"Please do not take away the hopes and dreams of our children by erasing all the progress they made throughout the year. Do not take their opportunities away from them." cried Laura Liu, a mother of two public middle school students at the rain-filled rally.

New York State Senator John C. Liu and Toby Ann Stavisky were in attendance. City Councilmembers Peter Koo and Bob Holden were also present alongside New York State Assembly Member Nily Rozic.

Thursday's rally marks the end of a long week of protests since the mayor canceled the previously scheduled November 7 and 8 SHSAT exam, affecting tens of thousands of middle school students.

On Monday, nearly 300 families from diverse backgrounds attended a Town Hall moderated by longtime Queens resident and advocate Frances Kweller. The meeting, held via zoom, included guest speakers such as New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, District 29 New York City Council Candidate David Aronov, and District 19 New York City Council Candidate Adriana Aviles.

Haim Cohen, a parent of an elementary and middle public school student, launched a Go Fund Me, to raise money in anticipation of litigation to compel the mayor to follow state law and administer the SHSAT. The grassroots fundraiser has exceeded $5,000 in donations during its first week.

A test date has yet to be announced.