Bill Cosby lead a demonstration in Pennsylvania on Wednesday (19Aug09) to protest against funding cuts at local schools.
The actor joined state Governor Ed Rendell and education leaders at the packed rally in Harrisburg's Capitol Rotunda, where he spoke of the need to financially support government-funded schools.
He began his speech with the heart-felt battle cry, "No more cuts!" before telling the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, is it that we don't like children?
"I mean, what did these people ever do to you that you want to cut? They're moving on a course that is very, very favourable.
"Why would you want to take money from the success story and pull back on it so that they will start to enter prison?"
The Cosby Show star argued that public education can help keep young people off the streets, insisting it costs taxpayers less than $5,000 ($3,300) a year to educate a child but $33,000 (£22,000) a year to incarcerate someone.
Government officials in Pennsylvania, Cosby's home state, are currently debating cutting back on school funding as they review a new budget.
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