Giving Compass' Take:

• The Center for Media and Democracy reports that protestors gathered in Los Angeles in December in response to Eli Broad, and other billionaires, pouring money into charter schools. 

• Is it appropriate for philanthropists to insert themselves into public education?

• Learn about the problems of elite, undemocratic philanthropy. 

On December 15th, thousands of teachers, students, and other public school supporters marched in downtown Los Angeles to the Broad Museum to protest billionaires such as Eli Broad that fund the growth of charter schools, many of which are not unionized and divert students from district schools.

Eli Broad is one of the billionaire philanthropists taking over public education. He founded Fortune 500 companies in insurance and real estate — contributing to the build-out of suburbs of Detroit, Phoenix, and Los Angeles — but has no known expertise or experience in public education.

Broad and allied wealthy school privatization supporters were among the biggest contributors to the $41 million campaign war chest for California state superintendent candidate Marshall Tuck, who conceded to the teachers union-supported candidate, Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, on November 17. The same donors also spent more than $20 million to bolster the unsuccessful 2018 primary run of charter-supporting California gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Read the full article about protesting billionaire interference at The Center for Media and Democracy.