Local Parents Protest Education Cuts at Westwood Federal Building

An estimated 150 people gathered outside the Federal Building in Westwood on Tuesday protesting state spending cuts for public schools and trying to raise awareness of the issue by wearing pajamas and encouraging Californians to wake up.

"We got the crowd fired up," said Teri Levy, co-founder of the grass-roots organization Educate Our State, a group of concerned parents fighting for better public schools.

The rally was part of a statewide effort led by the group, and included a day of wearing pajamas at various schools throughout Los Angeles, including Mar Vista Elementary.

"That was the theme of the day," Levy said about the pajamas and the cups of coffee. "It's time for California to wake up to social issues, and public education is one of them."

She said that the various demonstrations were as much about increasing understanding of the education cuts as protesting them.

"It's to raise awareness and to send a message to legislators that they need to work together to get a budget," Levy said, adding that it's impossible for schools to plan their spending when they don't know how much money they'll have.

Levy said she believed the rallies were a success.

"We have an ongoing campaign," she said. "Only with the masses can we be a force for political change."