In a dramatic act of civil disobedience today, six national education leaders
blocked the main entrance of the U.S. Department of Education in an effort to
protect the endangered Washington, D.C. school voucher program. The protesters
refused to leave the premises for nearly an hour, leading to a standoff with
police. Apparently on orders from federal officials, no arrests were made.

The individuals blocking entrance to the building were: former Democratic D.C.
Councilman Kevin P. Chavous, longtime D.C. education activist and executive
director of DC Parents for School Choice Virginia Walden Ford, the Rev. Anthony
Motley, Black Alliance for Educational (BAEO) Board Chair Dr. Howard Fuller,
BAEO President Gerard Robinson, and education reform leader Darrell Allison.

The protesters-who sought to block the entrance of the Department because "the
President and the Secretary have blocked low-income parents from accessing the
schools of their parents` choice"-were cheered on by 50 families and supporters,
including Councilman Marion Barry...