Stand for Children Rally (1996)

Sat Jun 01, 1996

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Image: A still from C-Span footage of the 1996 Stand for Children rally

On this day in 1996, the largest pro-children rally in U.S. history, more than 300k strong, began in D.C., leading to the founding of “Stand for Children”. SFC would later accept money from American oligarchs and fight teachers’ unions.

Organized by Marian Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund, the rally had many speakers of note, including Rosa Parks, who quipped “If I can sit down for justice, you can stand up for children.” Following their work at the rally, Jonah Edelman and Eliza Leighton founded SFC as a vehicle to advocate for the nation’s children.

The organization has faced criticism for its ultra-wealthy donors, including the Walton Family and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations, and board members, such as the daughter of billionaire Michael Bloomberg and Steve Jobs’ wife. The SFC has also worked to undermine the Chicago Teachers Union.

Susan Barrett, a former volunteer co-leader of a SFC team in Portland, Oregon, resigned from her position with SCF due to concerns along these lines. In a blog post published by the Washington Post, Barrett criticizes the group for allowing corporate influence to corrupt the popular roots of the organization.