NYC charter backers march across Brooklyn Bridge

October 8, 2013 Associated Press

Screen Shot 2013-10-08 at 10.41.55 AM.png

Share this:

Thousands of charter school supporters are marching across the Brooklyn Bridge in a show of strength directed at front-running mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio.

The Democrat de Blasio has said he would charge rent to some charter school operators that now get space in public school buildings for free.

Marchers chanted “No Rent!” as they marched from Brooklyn to City Hall for a news conference Tuesday.

The Success Academy charter schools founded by Eva Moskowitz closed for several hours so students and teachers could participate.

Charter schools are publicly funded, privately run schools. About 70,000 of New York City’s 1 million-plus public school pupils currently attend charter schools.

Republican candidate Joe Lhota has said he strongly supports charter schools and believes the city needs more of them.