Jennifer Hudson sings at Brooklyn charter schools rally

NEW YORK (AP) - Grammy- and Oscar-winning star Jennifer Hudson has performed for thousands of charter school supporters in Brooklyn.

Two little girls introduced Hudson to the cheering crowd on Wednesday.

The throng was awash in red T-shirts bearing the slogan, "I Fight to End Inequality." Some participants waved red flags.

The rally included many children and parents from the Success Academy charter school network.

Organizers say hundreds of thousands of city schoolchildren are trapped in low-performing schools. They're urging Mayor Bill de Blasio to support the growth of charter schools as an alternative.

Kimberly Hanley says her son Jaden just started Success Academy Harlem 2 after attending a district school. Hanley says educators at the charter school take time with the third-grader and make sure he understands the lessons.