Jointly sponsored by the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force and the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica, “The Right To Education, A Candidate and Issues Forum” will be held Thursday, October 25, 7:00 pm- 8:30 pm, at MLK Auditorium in the Santa Monica Main Library.

Recognizing that education is a central issue confronting California voters in November, high school students in Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades are co-hosting the forum, as part of their campaign to protect the “Right To Education.”

Taking part in the forum are the 50th Assembly District candidates, Richard Bloom and Betsy Butler, who will share their views on education, Eloy Oakley, President of Long Beach City College and Board Member with the Campaign for College Opportunity, representing Proposition 30, and Sandy Escobedo, a Senior Policy Analyst with the Advancement Project, representing Proposition 38. Both Oakley and Escobedo will talk about the importance and potential impact on education of their respective ballot measures. The presentations will be followed by student-led Q&A sessions.

The Human Rights Watch Student Task Force is a youth leadership-training program that empowers Los Angeles area high school students to advocate for human rights issues through annual campaigns, especially the rights of children. Last year’s campaign, The Right To Education, focused on the lack of education in international combat zones. This year, students requested that STF bring the campaign home, asking “What about our right to education here in Los Angeles and California? How do we protect our right to educational opportunity in California?”

Students from local high schools will introduce the forum, share their daily experiences, moderate, and lead interactive discussions with the candidates and representatives of Propositions 30 and 38.

“The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica is thrilled to partner with such a committed group of high school students to sponsor a forum focused on the right to educational opportunity,” said League spokesperson Barbara Inatsugu. “These students are the reason we work so persistently for education reform and increased funding – yet, we don’t hear directly from them enough. We need to hear their voices!”

The library is located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica.