The city of Chicago, led by Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel, President Obama's former chief of staff, has announced plans to close 129 schools this year. The planned closures, which will primarily affect poor neighborhoods, are part of the Obama administration's nationwide attack on public education.

Facing mass opposition to the school closures, the city held a series of public hearings in an attempt to diffuse public outrage. Parents, teachers, and students have been given an “opportunity” to justify why their school should remain open, and, by implication, another closed. Many saw the process as a sham, and expect that CPS will push forward with the closures.

Parents and students spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about the dangers and difficulties children will face when their schools close, and about the way forward in the fight against school closures.