As Twitchy reported earlier, Occupiers were quick to pledge their solidarity with the Chicago Teachers Union in its strike, and now the strike has taken on an Occupy-like dimension as hundreds if not thousands of teachers and supporters have taken to the streets, shutting down the Chicago Loop this afternoon.

UPDATE: Kris Habermehl in Chopper 780 says a sea of red is marching in the Loop in #Chicago. Teachers rallying on first day of strike. — Steve Grzanich (@SteveGrzanich) September 10, 2012

My office is half a block from a pretty loud protest by the Chicago Teachers' Union. It's been growing all day. Drums, airhorns, etc. — Matt White (@mattw59) September 10, 2012

https://twitter.com/shishibean/status/245260398033522688

https://twitter.com/shishibean/status/245263595104002048

Hundreds block traffic in Chicago pic.twitter.com/cXCNvmHX — Jonathan Hoenig (@JonathanHoenig) September 10, 2012

Lots of anti Rahm signs pic.twitter.com/62zcmfqV — Jonathan Hoenig (@JonathanHoenig) September 10, 2012

6 blocks in Chicago shut down massive protest look here http://t.co/UYtwGJ1d per @laborradio — Mike Elk (@MikeElk) September 10, 2012

#ctustrike marchers carry giant banner asking "Democratic Party Where Are You?" http://t.co/ALIjvfCu — Mike Elk (@MikeElk) September 10, 2012

Some students had tweeted that their teachers had encouraged them to join in on the strike. Workers Independent News is reporting that teachers have brought in a drum line. Are these students?

Another source identifies the drum line as students from Thomas Kelly High School in Chicago.

We realize poster board doesn’t come with a built-in spell checker, but speaking of Kelly High School…

@emzanotti Literacy rate commensurate to something more like this: pic.twitter.com/tmJm6XsY — Eric Kohn (@iEricKohn) September 10, 2012

Occupy Chicago is using the opportunity to distribute copies of its Occupied Chicago Tribune newspaper.

While labor organizations are thrilled with the turnout, a downtown traffic stoppage isn’t winning sympathy from everyone.

So Chicago teachers decided a good way 2 launch a protest is 2 shut down loop traffic. This isn't causing me 2 b sympathetic 2 their cause. — David Stevenson (@DavidStevenson) September 10, 2012

Chicago teachers are acting like moronic lemmings starting a protest during rush hour, blocking the Loop. And these people make 76k? — Robyn (@robdetf) September 10, 2012

Blocking traffic for thousands of people, many of them trying to get home to out of school kids, is what's "Giving the best to children" — Heather (@hboulware) September 10, 2012

No official crowd estimates have been given, but the Chicago Sun-Times reported “thousands,” while supporters are claiming up to 30,000.

Any preliminary crowd estimates for #ctustrike march through the Loop? Looks insane. — joe erbentraut (@robojojo) September 10, 2012