A number of Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association (HSTA) members joined more than 3,000 educators in Orlando, Florida, to rally for honesty in education.

The National Education Association (NEA), HSTA’s parent organization, held a Freedom to Learn rally to demand that politicians stop banning books and politicizing public education.

Ninety HSTA members, seven HSTA-Retired members, and one Aspiring Educator are currently in Orlando for the 2023 NEA Representative Assembly, where educators from every state debate and vote on vital issues that impact American public education and set NEA policy and activities for the year ahead.

The 6,000-member delegation has already approved a comprehensive plan to organize members in support of the LGBTQ+ community in light of targeted attacks and anti-LGBTQ+ initiatives, as well as elevate culturally responsive pedagogical and curricular resources.

With 3 million members, the NEA is the largest union in the country, and its annual RA is the world’s largest democratic deliberative assembly.

Photo credit: HSTA