More than 50,000 people surround Chicago Board of Education in support of teachers' strike

[proud2BlibKansan]

By the end of the afternoon of the first day of the Chicago teachers strike of 2012, more than 50,000 people, most of them wearing the now famous "CTU Red", were in downtown Chicago surrounding the headquarters of Chicago Public Schools a few blocks south of the offices of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who currently has overall power and control over the schools.

The arrival of the sea of people, many of whom had spent the beginning of the day on picket lines at real public schools across the city, began after the pickets were taken down late in the morning of the first day of the strike, September 10, 2012.

The massive September 10 Loop rally in the afternoon followed the early morning picketing at all of the schools. In response to the nasty comments by Chicago's mayor and his appointed officials, the Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement WHY WE STRIKE:

Mayor Emanuel Continues to Insult Public School Educators; This is not a “Strike of Choice.”

Why The Chicago Teachers And School Personnel Have Called A Strike:

more . . . http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=3590§ion=Article

[DreamGypsy]

1. Beautiful. (nt)

[Lifelong Protester]

2. That Rahm is showing himself to be

a nasty POS.

[Peregrine Took]

3. I still am in shock he was elected.

I guess it was left over pro Obama sentiment.

[Lifelong Protester]

4. True. I don't know if it is

that Chicago folks like their mayors a bit 'rough around the edges' and tough, or what, but I didn't think he had anything to offer, but being tough and notoriously foul-mouthed.

[progressoid]

10. I don't think most people really knew who the real Rham was.

"Nasty POS" is a little to kind in my opinion.

[Lifelong Protester]

13. yeah, I'm trying to

earn my 'civility' merit badge, so I toned it down a bit...

[Wilms]

5. ^

[senseandsensibility]

6. Yay!! Go teachers!

The support is overwhelming.

[ibegurpard]

7. very happy to see this support

the message has been incredibly muddled and I hope it's getting out there that is not just a salary dispute.

[Omaha Steve]

8. When I miss labor stories

Somebody please send me note.

K&R!

[Zalatix]

9. DAMN!!! I wish this were happening on the West Coast.

I'd love to be a part of that. It makes me miss the Oakland Occupy protests all the more.

[progressoid]

11. Rec!

[DonRedwood]

12. That is one beautiful picture!

[HiPointDem]

14. fantastic. it feels good to see some support instead of denigration, for a change.