On the inaugural day of strike, Portland teachers, families and students rally on the picket line...

School district announced that schools would remain closed on Thursday, adding that it’s unable to meet what it describes as the costly demands of the teachers union

Miriam Van Zandt looked up at her mom. She wrapped small fingers around a microphone attached to a megaphone.

“I want to do a different one,” Miriam said, requesting another chant. She soon settled on: “I love my teachers,” to which the protesters called back, “We love our students!”

It was the first time the second-grader had ever been part of a strike. The same was true for her mother, Shannon Van Zandt, who works as an English language development teacher at Capitol Hill Elementary School and two other locations in Portland Public Schools.

The Portland Association of Teachers formally began their strike Wednesday morning. This is the first teachers’ strike in the history of Oregon’s largest school district. Actions are taking place across the city.