Arizona teachers kick off walkout with march on Capitol, massive rally

PHOENIX — The streets of downtown Phoenix were flooded in red Thursday as thousands of teachers and their supporters converged to join the protests over wages and funding for education.

The rally was organized by the Red for Ed movement for the first day of the walkout that teachers voted in favor of last week.

The walkout was expected to affect hundreds of thousands of students for an unforeseen amount of time. Dozens of school districts have announced that they would close due to the lack of staffing.

Gov. Doug Ducey proposed a 20 percent pay raise by 2020 for teachers, but his offer didn’t prevent them from walking off the job and taking to the streets.

Here is how the day went:

10 a.m.

Protesters gathered at Chase Field. The plan was to march to the Arizona Capitol for a massive rally while the Legislature was in session.

#RedForEd pic.twitter.com/FmOfga7nkY

— KTAR News (@KTAR923) April 26, 2018

10:30 a.m.

Brian Parsons, a first-grade teacher at Apache Elementary in Peoria, was on hand despite concerns about where the money would come from for raises.

“I’m a parent also,” he said. “I have a 3-year-old son with autism, and I’m very worried about taking from the developmentally disabled to give us a raise. It’s not moral.

“I think this movement is more of a moral movement. Teachers are not the type to sell out, and we don’t want to think everytime we look at our paycheck that some developmentally disabled child is going without something they need.”

11 a.m.

Marchers began their trek from Chase Field and headed toward the Capitol, a 2-mile walk on a day the temperature was expected to reach the upper 90s.

pic.twitter.com/yIb8kOV6Ir

— Bruce and Pamela (@BruceandPamela) April 26, 2018

Many marchers chanted “Red for Ed” along the way, and supporters handed out water.

#RedForEd supporters are handing out water to those marching to the Capitol as temperatures exceed 90 degrees in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/Glwg19Ot9u

— KTAR News (@KTAR923) April 26, 2018

.@MacWatson is live in Phoenix as the #RedForEd march continues toward the Arizona Captol. pic.twitter.com/gP0o2Uiyzu

— KTAR News (@KTAR923) April 26, 2018

Shuttle buses also were available for protesters who didn’t want to or were unable to march.

Transit officials expected backups delays and detours between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. while the marchers made their way from Chase Field to the Arizona Capitol.

Heads up, expect downtown street closures and transit detours on Routes 8, 15 & DASH GOVT today for the #education march and rally! pic.twitter.com/4iyQyeZkds

— PHX Public Transit (@PhoenixMetroBus) April 26, 2018

11:30 a.m.

Marchers started arriving at the Capitol grounds.

#RedForEd supporters have started to arrive at the capitol, with the majority expected to arrive soon from Chase Field pic.twitter.com/Qv3dd1k8Jz

— Cronkite News (@cronkitenews) April 26, 2018

As walk-out participants continue to make their way toward Capitol, commuters are advised to avoid area between 19th Ave and 7th St from Van Buren down to the railroad tracks. #PHX #RedforEd pic.twitter.com/yx4O11cCBO

— City of Phoenix, AZ (@CityofPhoenixAZ) April 26, 2018

12:30 p.m.

The crowd was filling in at the Capitol grounds.

Tens of thousands are here in Phoenix in front of the Capitol for the #RedForEd march as teachers walked out today. pic.twitter.com/8l4OgoQXHZ

— KTAR News (@KTAR923) April 26, 2018

1:15 p.m.

Speeches were underway for the rally at the Capitol.

Phoenix Police said they estimated that 50,000 protesters participated in the event.

1:30 p.m.

Boos greeted an announcement on stage that the Legislature had adjourned until Monday.

Then the end of the rally was announced. Protesters were asked to return to the Capitol on Friday for another demonstration starting at 10 a.m.

The proceedings wrapped up with chants of “What’s the plan Ducey, what’s the plan?” and “Red for Ed!”

KTAR 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

Follow @KTAR923