Teachers’ Strike in the Chicago Tradition

September 10, 2012

 

The assault on public education started here. It needs to end here.

Karen Lewis, CTU president

 

the teachers march in Chicago.

red in the streets again, perpetually.

this is a union town, after all

Most radical of American cities:16

Nelson Algren would say

 

this a fight against a mayor

who sold the unions out

to nafta & the clinton white house.

 

the teachers’ strike

in the Chicago tradition

allied with trade unionists

& Pullman porters. in solidarity

with the Haymarket martyrs

& Republic Windows workers.

 

the teachers honor those who died

in the 1937 memorial day massacre

when cops shot steelworkers.

they honor those who build & built

the country, who ensured the eight-hour day.

 

in the name of:

Lucy Parsons

Albert Parsons

& Rudy Lozano

 

in the name of:

Gene Debs

Mother Jones

Addie Wyatt

Jane Addams &

The Pullman Porters

 

in the name of Studs Terkel

& his red socks

in solidarity, he rocks from the grave

& would’ve been on the picket line

today, with the teachers

in the long haul

standing with the many

standing with the teachers

firmly rooted in the Chicago tradition:

on the shoulders of giants

who knocked down goliath

fighting the good fight

for the future of All