MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Gwendolyn Samuel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE gwendolynsamuel@gmail.com

August 22, 2014


MERIDEN PARENT FILES LAWSUIT OPPOSING GOVERNOR DANNEL P. MALLOY
APPOINTEE TO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a
minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities
(and the smallest minority on earth is the individual). Ayn Rand

WHO: In a morning press conference, Meriden parent Gwen Samuel will announce the filing of a
lawsuit opposing Governor Dannel P. Malloys State Board of Education appointment of
Erin D. Benham, President of the Meriden Federation of Teachers and Executive
Committee Vice President of the Connecticut American Federation of Teachers.

WHEN: 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 22, 2014

WHERE: Hartford Superior Court, 90 Washington Street, Hartford Connecticut

WHAT: Samuel cites some reasons for the lawsuit as being: 1) Unequal parent and other education
stakeholder representation at State Board of Education level ; 2) Undue influence and
power over State Board of Education process because of Connecticut American Federation
of Teacher membership of 29,000 and unlimited resource access to national AFT base
membership of 850,000; 3) AFT Connecticut has a documented history of publically
opposing parent empowerment law efforts such as holding national trainings with language
such as Kill Mode http://rishawnbiddle.org/outsidereports/aft_parentpower_guide.pdf ;
4) AFT PAC endorsed Governor Dannel P. Malloy June of 2014 concerns of quid pro quo
; and 5) potential Conflict of interest because of financial gains by virtue of being a public
employee. The lawsuit will also ask for Injunctive Relief to halt the appointment process

WHY: Samuel wants to ensure that her parent Constitutional, statutory, civil, common law, due
process and equal protection rights to the upbringing and education of her children are
not violated as a result of this Governor appointment while she strives to ensure her kids
gain equitable access to safe and high quality educational opportunities with appropriate
fiscal and personnel oversight. Samuel stresses that parents understand fully that an
effective teacher is the most important person in front of the classroom and a critical part
of the education process but they are not the whole solution. This is not about invalidating
the important role of effective teachers. This is about constitutional rights being protected
and equal representation for all education stakeholders at the State Board of Education
level.
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