Chanting "Segregation has to go" and "No justice, no peace," more than 30 people marched uptown Saturday to protest inequities they see in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Led by Kojo Nantambu, president of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the group marched from Marshall Park to the Government Center to voice concerns about school closings, teacher training and other issues.

"We want everybody in Charlotte to know that even though (former Superintendent) Peter Gorman may be gone, there's still racism and discrimination in the school system in Charlotte," Nantambu told the crowd.

In an interview before the march, Nantambu cited some examples of racism, including the closings of about a dozen schools with high minority populations and the use of Teach for America teachers in high-poverty schools.

Teach for America teachers are college graduates recruited to work in challenging public schools to boost achievement among low-income and minority students. They do not have teaching degrees or teacher certification.

School board Vice Chairman Tom Tate, who did not attend the march, said Saturday that while the Teach for America program does not require teaching degrees, it "brings some very bright and motivated college graduates into teaching, and they have had good results overall in terms of being able to help students."

Tate said recent school closings were not based on race, but "on what would make better opportunities for the students who were attending those schools."

As Nantambu and others spoke on the steps of the Government Center, the crowd grew to more than 50.

"Separate has always been unequal," said state NAACP President William Barber.

Barber decried what he called the re-segregation and under-funding of schools. He also quoted Wake County Judge Howard Manning, who, while presiding over a lawsuit on state spending and education quality, accused CMS of committing "academic genocide."

Barber encouraged activists for education to join with activists for civil rights, labor, voting rights and other causes to help make the world a better place for children.

"If we do it together, we will win," Barber said.

He and other speakers encouraged parents to get more involved in their children's education and pay close attention to the actions of the school board.

Dawn Johnson, 36, whose two sons attend Marie G. Davis Military & Global Leadership Academy, said she came to the march because "I'm concerned about their educational future."

She also said she wanted to protest school closings and funding cuts and learn how to get more involved in the schools.

Mary Cherry, 70, whose grown son attended Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, said she took part in the march to continue her activism for children and education.

"Do the right thing for our children," she said, "especially the minorities."