2025 Teach Truth Day of Action March in D.C.
Photo: Allison Fletcher Acosta
Despite the rain and in defiance of censorship and criminalization in education, ICE Raids escalating in Los Angeles, and attacks on LGBTQ+ and specifically trans youth, more than 50 educators, students, families, and community members gathered in Washington, D.C., to take part in the national Teach Truth Day of Action on June 7, 2025. The event spotlighted a growing movement to resist censorship and political attacks on honest teaching. The D.C. Day of Action was organized by D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (a project of Teaching for Change) and co-sponsored by CARE Anacostia, EmpowerED, and the National Education Association (NEA).
Starting at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the event featured powerful speeches, Dream City Brass Band, and a march to four other Smithsonian museums. Each stop featured speakers who reinforced the urgent call to defend truthful education and democracy.
At the National Museum of African American History and Culture, participants heard energizing speeches from associate executive director of the American Library Association Lisa Varga and NEA president Becky Pringle. They emphasized the urgency of protecting educators and students, resisting and reporting book bans, and defending curricula that confront the realities of U.S. and global history — including racism, genocide, resistance and collective struggle.
Emcees Keesha Ceran, Deputy Director of Teaching for Change, and Dr. Tamyka Morant, D.C. Public School administrator, led participants to each stop and called on protestors to read their public pledges. Participants pledged to protect their students and continue to teach truthful history, despite threats from the authoritarian and fascist regime to whitewash and erase history. Stops at the National Museum of American History, Hirshhorn, Air and Space Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian highlighted the risk of exhibits being erased under recent federal orders to remove "divisive, race-centered ideology."
Emcees Keesha Ceran and Dr. Tamyka Morant. Photo: Allison Fletcher Acosta.
In a post event interview with Word in Black Ceran stated, “Teaching for Change is committed to defending educators’ rights to teach truth, defending educators who are committed to not lying to students about history. “
This D.C. action was one of many across the country — including a nearby event in Rockville, Maryland — and even internationally. From Oakland to Oklahoma City to Barcelona, educators and allies rallied under the same banner: Teach, Vote, Resist, Organize.
Follow the movement and share your own pledge with the hashtag #TeachTruth.
