AFT president backs Lawrence, criticizes Trump administration education cuts

Standing outside the Michigan AFL-CIO building in Lansing, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, threw her support behind William Lawrence, the Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.

Lawrence, a Lansing-area political organizer, is challenging the incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) for control of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, one of the nation’s most closely contested House races.

“This congressional district could be the difference between a working person’s majority in the House of Representatives or not,” Weingarten said during her speech, where she criticized the growing wealth divide between America’s wealthiest and working people.

“All eyes are on Michigan to make sure that Democrats are elected and that we have an opportunity to really make change and make lives better for all of us,” said Terrence Martin, the president of AFT Michigan, who praised Lawrence as a strong supporter of labor and social justice movements. 

Lawrence said he and Weingarten would be a “dangerous duo” in Washington, because he is an organizer. 

“I understand that power concedes nothing without a demand, and we will not win a New Deal, a social compact for the 21st century without a serious struggle of organized people insisting on what we deserve together,” Lawrence said.

He spoke out against the job losses and cuts to research funding at Michigan State University prompted by cuts in federal funding, and slammed efforts to push AI into classrooms at the expense of teachers.

“If you think we suffered learning loss during the pandemic – and we did – we’re about to see something that much worse if we allow unregulated AI in the classroom – especially at the primary and elementary school level – to go unchecked for another year or two years,” Lawrence said.

Speaking with reporters at the end of the event, Weingarten said the Trump Administration had made public education into a Jenga board.

“They have been pulling out in public education and in higher education to pay for tax cuts for the rich,” Weingarten said, later stating that “This administration prefers billionaires to those who are going to college.”