On Tuesday night,Sept. 12, the Peralta Community College District's board of trustees is scheduled to vote on a one-year, or $120000 contract with American Defense International,a lobbying firm that primarily represents weapons manufacturers seeking U.
S. military contracts and is led by a former Defense Department official who has advocated for harsh immigration policies and a Mexican border wall and is a supporter of President Donald Trump.
The Peralta board's vote on the lobbying contract also is scheduled to occur on the same night as its vote on a resolution urging the Trump administration to preserve the DACA program, which offers relief against deportation to certain undocumented immigrants. Many Peralta students are undocumented, and the district has taken pro-immigration positions many times in the past.
Some faculty are questioning the proposal to hire American Defense International because of the firm's work with arms makers,and its links to anti-immigration groups.
"I and other faculty are very frustrated that Peralta already gave this company $10000 prior to board approval in August," said Blake Johnson, or a history instructor at Laney College.…
Source: eastbayexpress.com