Most classrooms in Chicago were without teachers on Friday after educators joined a massive strike that called for better handling on the finances of the city's educational sector. They were also accompanied by parents who wanted an improvement on the working conditions of their children's mentors.
The Washington Post reported that the thousands of teachers, who joined hands in marching, chanting and waving signs in protest, only wanted a stable budget for schools in Chicago. The city's teachers union president, Karen Lewis, said the educational system has been suffering because it has been operating without a budget for about nine months already.
"The fact is that we need to do something major," Lewis said in a Washington Post report. "When people are inconvenienced, they have to have some place to focus, and they need to focus on him."
It was noted in an ABC 7 report that the teachers started their march from Thompson Center to Grant Park. They did not only paralyze classes, but also caused heavy traffic since they took the streets during rush hours.
At night time, they gathered along the southbound lane of Lake Shore Drive, which was also closed to traffic at about 6 p.m. ABC 7 said authorities were able to arrest four people during the protest.
We ruined Rahm's career!
"Rahm Emanuel on its list of the “World’s 19 Most Disappointing Leaders” https://t.co/2T6hx6cFot @CTULocal1— Sarah Chambers (@Sarah4Justice) April 2, 2016
The problem raised by the protesters has been recognized by the Chicago Public Schools and even Mayor Rahm Emanuel. They all agree that this crisis can only be resolved through legislation; however, tagged the walkout and strike as "unproductive and illegal."
The city school board, as per schools CEO Forrest Claypool, has already filed a complaint with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board to avoid similar mass protests from happening in the future. "There has to be accountability for blatantly breaking the law. It's important to clearly establish that whether children are in school, being educated, is not subject to the whims of the Chicago Teachers Union leadership," added Claypool.
