IGD LA: Mass Teacher’s Strike Kicks Off

Over 30,000 union teachers and staffers in the second largest school district in the US went on strike today. The strike began with pickets at schools in the morning and then a mass march later in the day. Check out our roundup of the action from people on the ground below, and be sure to follow the hashtag, #UTLAStrike. Solidarity with the strike is also high, with many students not showing up for school in solidarity and people hitting the streets to march with teachers.

The LA teacher’s strike comes at a time during growing anger at the Trump administration for a manufactured crisis at the US/Mexico border that has led to the current government shut down. The shut down has led to sick out actions from TSA workers and talk of strikes from other sectors. If these various groups of workers are able to link up and take their struggles into their own hands, pushing back against bureaucrats and Democratic Party officials seeking to manage the situation, is anyone’s guess.

A sea of @utlanow protestors moves through #DTLA as the #UTLAStirke marches toward @LASchools HQ.pic.twitter.com/R3GIwylzb3

— L.A. TACO ?? (@LATACO) January 14, 2019

Matching strike band through the 2nd street tunnel!!!! #UTLAStrike pic.twitter.com/JfLkohzAfc

— inéditas (@edcns_ineditas) January 14, 2019

#LAUSDStrike teachers rally near #LosAngeles city hall Monday on the first day of the #UTLAStrike pic.twitter.com/bOIN3jd6JJ

— David Crane (@vidcrane) January 14, 2019

Hard to estimate size – but the crowd seems to be as large, if not larger than the pre-strike crowd on Dec. 15 (that was 50,000+). pic.twitter.com/90c82fpoVK

— Salvo (@salvo_paper) January 14, 2019

A band of teachers were playing “The Final Countdown” at the #UTLAStrike rally @ Grand Park pic.twitter.com/dkZzwOkUaG

— ??‍♀️??‍♀️??‍♀️ (@alyciainLA) January 14, 2019

Just chanting "strike" on the bass drum beat it's giving me goosebumps #utlastrike pic.twitter.com/ANJijV3Oh2

— Sarah Jaffe (@sarahljaffe) January 14, 2019

My phone has stopped recording audio so I need you to imagine how loud 30K teachers in a tunnel are right now #utlastrike pic.twitter.com/R4rPCJFbzG

— Sarah Jaffe (@sarahljaffe) January 14, 2019

At Mendez High School in Boyle Heights only 106 of the 1045 student body showed up in a strong showing of support for teachers! #UTLAStrong #UTLAStrike pic.twitter.com/8ySyjnUh2j

— Veronica Carrizales (@veronicalucha) January 14, 2019

Go get ‘em #UTLAstrike pic.twitter.com/NQ0lJCNGC3

— Aaron Bicart (@aaronbicart) January 14, 2019

Woke up and walked over to Venice High
to join LA teachers on the morning picket line
striking to fight the privatization of public education
rain or shine#RedForEd #UTLAStrong #UTLAStrike @UTLAnow @ReclaimLASchls @dsa_la pic.twitter.com/DyJ7yNWFD1

— Nick Fuller Googins (@FullerGo) January 14, 2019

Pouring rain at Grand Park but it's packed and the energy is high! #UTLASTRIKE pic.twitter.com/ieAKD01nbW

— inéditas (@edcns_ineditas) January 14, 2019

Taking the bus to the Teachers really Downtown and it's packed with loud and energetic teachers. Woot Woot!!#UTLAstrike pic.twitter.com/u0sdVDp5Wc

— inéditas (@edcns_ineditas) January 14, 2019

Huge presence outside of LA city hall. Sea of red. pic.twitter.com/6YBoxB3GM7

— Salvo (@salvo_paper) January 14, 2019

Exiting the metro toward LA city hall. pic.twitter.com/GsX9lTjBl4

— SGV Mutual Aid Society (@sgvmutualaid) January 14, 2019

The best part of waking up is a picket of striking teachers with your cup! ?☕️

Image is the 5am opening shift of teachers at a Koreatown school school in Los Angeles. #StrikeToWin #LAUSD ❤️? pic.twitter.com/cfVCKAI9m3

— ❤️Black Rose/Rosa Negra? (@BRRN_Fed) January 14, 2019

Teachers are now leaving their pickets and massing in DTLA for a mass march. Rain has been intermittent and heavy. #UTLAstrike

— Salvo (@salvo_paper) January 14, 2019

Out here! #UTLAStrike pic.twitter.com/gQMLl50QMf

— SGV Mutual Aid Society (@sgvmutualaid) January 14, 2019

We’re here at RFK community schools in Koreatown – where there is a picket of about 100 teachers and supporters! pic.twitter.com/RkZKiGf7qW

— Salvo (@salvo_paper) January 14, 2019

Come to @LosAngelesIWW office on Saturday, Jan 12th at 12:45pm to help us make a banner. The addy is 936 W 8th St #304, #LosAngeles
Signs below are @BRRN_Fed for the LA teacher’s march on the 15th. Our signs will be silkscreened too. #feminism #anticapitalism #womensmarch #event pic.twitter.com/TYGaoGX19k

— Anti-Capitalist Feminist Coalition (@acfc_la) January 12, 2019