Hundreds of Chicago teacher supporters rally Tuesday
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CHICAGO (Associated Press) -
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis made her first appearance at Tuesday's rally in front of Chicago Public School's headquarters.
She spoke to the thousands of teachers, parents and supporters who filled the streets this afternoon.
"When they start talking about laying off our members, what they're really talking about is increasing the class sizes of our children," Lewis proclaimed.
The CTU says today's negotiations focused on teacher evaluations-- an issue both sides are having a hard time agreeing on. Teacher's evaluations are partly based on standardized test scores.
The union argues that part of the Board of Education proposal could displace roughly 6,000 teachers.
"We are concerned about any evaluation system that would put 28% of our members in harm's way of being dismissed," Lewis continued. "And that is just not an acceptable number."
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten also addressed the marchers on Tuesday afternoon from a riser in the middle of the street. She told the teachers she was proud to be with them. Weingarten wore a red T-shirt that read "Stand with the Chicago Teachers Union."
Marchers cheered, chanted and carried signs that read "On Strike." They booed when Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis mentioned Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and chanted "Rahm Emanuel has got to go." Earlier in the day Emanuel reiterated that he considered it a "strike of choice."
The Chicago Board of Education hopes there will be a compromise that leads to an end to the strike.
"We're working hard every day, hopefully not too many days to resolve this as quickly as possible," Chicago Board of Education Vice President, Jesse Ruiz said. "We still believe we could do this while having our kids in the classroom, having the teachers in the classroom where they belong."
Chicago Teachers Union members went on strike from Chicago Public Schools on Monday.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:01 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:01:57 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the Wednesday morning rush.
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the Wednesday morning rush. Crews have bee working to repair tracks and switches after Monday's derailment.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:50 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:50:52 GMT
FDNY photo via Twitter
Emergency responders rescued a worker who was trapped when a trench collapsed Tuesday evening at a Queens construction site that was supposed to be closed.
Emergency responders rescued a worker who was trapped when a trench collapsed Tuesday evening at a Queens construction site that was supposed to be closed.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:34 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:34:07 GMT
It's a sight that can trigger dread. The low-battery message appears on your cell phone when there's no charger around.
It's a sight that can trigger dread. The low-battery message appears on your cell phone when there's no charger around. Now New York City has teamed up with AT&T to install 25 solar powered charging stations over the summer.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 4:55 PM EDT2013-06-18 20:55:38 GMT
A man accused of fatally shooting a gay man walking with a companion in New York City's Greenwich Village pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of fatally shooting a gay man walking with a companion in New York City's Greenwich Village afterward claimed that he opened fire because the victim "thought he was tough in front of his bitch," prosecutors said in court papers Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:32 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:32:12 GMT
NYC
Nearly 3 million New Yorkers' homes are now in evacuation zones that cover more than a third of the city's population, under new maps released Tuesday.
Nearly 3 million New Yorkers' homes are now in evacuation zones that cover more than a third of the city's population, under new maps released Tuesday.In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, officials said last month, the number of zones would double and encompass about 600,000 more residents.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:05 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:05:09 GMT
Police are looking for a man who stabbed another man in Times Square Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The victim was stabbed in the chest, the NYPD and FDNY said.
Police are looking for a man who stabbed another man in Times Square Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The victim was stabbed in the chest, the NYPD and FDNY said.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 12:20 PM EDT2013-06-18 16:20:04 GMT
The director of the National Security Agency said Tuesday the government's sweeping surveillance programs have foiled some 50 terrorist plots worldwide, including one directed at the New York Stock Exchange.
The director of the National Security Agency said Tuesday the government's sweeping surveillance programs have foiled some 50 terrorist plots worldwide, including one directed at the New York Stock Exchange.
