BRIDGEPORT, CT — Members of the Connecticut Parents Union will hold a demonstration today outside of the Brien McMahon Federal Building in Bridgeport to support LaShawn Robinson, plaintiff in the case of Robinson v. Wentzel.

Robinson v. Wentzell, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, challenges the Connecticut State Department of Education’s race-based enrollment quotas and lottery for the city’s magnet schools. Today the court will hold a hearing to determine whether or not to grant the defendants’ motion to keep the case out of federal court. Plaintiffs in the case are arguing that Connecticut’s state-mandated racial quota, violates the constitutional rights of Black and Hispanic students and should therefore be argued in federal court. Under Connecticut state law, Hartford magnet schools must reserve 25 percent of admissions for White or Asian students, and limit African-American or Hispanic enrollment to 75 percent. Magnet schools that have not yet reached the 25 percent White or Asian quota may not admit students of other races until the quota is met, which often results in empty seats and students of other races being denied enrollment. Families will gather to support LaShawn Robinson and the seven other Hartford parents listed as plaintiffs in the suit. Connecticut Parents Union supports the Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing the plaintiffs free of charge in an effort to restore the constitutional rights of Black and Hispanic students to have the same educational opportunities as all children in Connecticut.

What: No Empty Seats. No Racial Quotas in Connecticut Schools: Rally to support LaShawn Robinson

Who: Individuals available for media interviews include: Gwen Samuel, President, Connecticut Parents Union; LaShawn Robinson, plaintiff in the case of Robinson v. Wentzel; Joshua P. Thompson, attorney for the plaintiffs in Robinson v. Wentzel; Connecticut families, students on hand.

When: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 4 PM EDT

Where: Brien McMahon Federal Building 915 Lafayette Boulevard Bridgeport, CT 06604

For additional information, please contact Gwen Samuel at [email protected] or 203.443.3203

About The Connecticut Parents Union: The Connecticut Parents Union (CTPU) is a membership association established to connect parents, guardians and families with the resources and support necessary to effectively advocate for the educational rights of children.