As Twitchy reported earlier, Occupiers were quick to pledge their solidarity with the Chicago Teachers Union in its strike, and now the strike has taken on an Occupy-like dimension as hundreds if not thousands of teachers and supporters have taken to the streets, shutting down the Chicago Loop this afternoon.
UPDATE: Kris Habermehl in Chopper 780 says a sea of red is marching in the Loop in #Chicago. Teachers rallying on first day of strike.
— Steve Grzanich (@SteveGrzanich) September 10, 2012
My office is half a block from a pretty loud protest by the Chicago Teachers' Union. It's been growing all day. Drums, airhorns, etc.
— Matt White (@mattw59) September 10, 2012
https://twitter.com/shishibean/status/245260398033522688
https://twitter.com/shishibean/status/245263595104002048
Teachers strike shut down the Loop!! #chicago #CPS http://t.co/mt6U8Y4j
— BARRINGTON (@CadillacCarter) September 10, 2012
Hundreds block traffic in Chicago pic.twitter.com/cXCNvmHX
— Jonathan Hoenig (@JonathanHoenig) September 10, 2012
Lots of anti Rahm signs pic.twitter.com/62zcmfqV
— Jonathan Hoenig (@JonathanHoenig) September 10, 2012
A familiar #Occupy refrain pic.twitter.com/8pi7kxnC
— Jonathan Hoenig (@JonathanHoenig) September 10, 2012
6 blocks in Chicago shut down massive protest look here http://t.co/UYtwGJ1d per @laborradio
— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) September 10, 2012
#ctustrike marchers carry giant banner asking "Democratic Party Where Are You?" http://t.co/ALIjvfCu
— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) September 10, 2012
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Some students had tweeted that their teachers had encouraged them to join in on the strike. Workers Independent News is reporting that teachers have brought in a drum line. Are these students?
http://t.co/Wg2sbhKp the teachers brought a drum line. #cpsstrike
— LaborRadio (@laborradio) September 10, 2012
Another source identifies the drum line as students from Thomas Kelly High School in Chicago.
Kelly HS Drum Line represent! #ctustrike #faircontractnow pic.twitter.com/Ltnbn2rp
— Labor Notes (@labornotes) September 10, 2012
We realize poster board doesn’t come with a built-in spell checker, but speaking of Kelly High School…
https://twitter.com/iEricKohn/status/245277020009943040
Occupy Chicago is using the opportunity to distribute copies of its Occupied Chicago Tribune newspaper.
Student utilizes copy of @occupiedchitrib for speech during #ctustrike rally pic.twitter.com/cutlLuO3
— #GetFree (@daneyvilla) September 10, 2012
While labor organizations are thrilled with the turnout, a downtown traffic stoppage isn’t winning sympathy from everyone.
So Chicago teachers decided a good way 2 launch a protest is 2 shut down loop traffic. This isn't causing me 2 b sympathetic 2 their cause.
— David Stevenson (@DavidStevenson) September 10, 2012
Chicago teachers are acting like moronic lemmings starting a protest during rush hour, blocking the Loop. And these people make 76k?
— Robyn ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@robdetf) September 10, 2012
https://twitter.com/hboulware/statuses/245267151731175424
No official crowd estimates have been given, but the Chicago Sun-Times reported “thousands,” while supporters are claiming up to 30,000.
Any preliminary crowd estimates for #ctustrike march through the Loop? Looks insane.
— joe erbentraut (@robojojo) September 10, 2012
I've heard crowd estimates of 20k+. Hard to say for sure. #FairContractNow #CTUstrike
— [semi-employed bi-homicidal wandering jewess] (@allshiny) September 10, 2012
@CTULocal1 parents, students community have shut down the loop! Over 30,000 in the street #CTUstrike #faircontractnow pic.twitter.com/46mnie8O
— Caleb Jennings (@NoMoreLandlord) September 10, 2012
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