A massive wave of red came crashing onto the state capitol today.
Educators poured in from across Arizona to send a message.
"We need to do better. We need to do better right now, and that is powerful, and that's what a democracy looks like. That's why we're in this position right now- which is a position of power 40:40 and a position I bring change to this state," said Noah Karvelis.
Some estimates put the crowd at more than 60,000.
Lizzie Menefee left Rio Rico before dawn to be part of this.
"It's hard we miss the kids. We miss our parents. We know they count on us, but it gets to the point that it's just getting so hard," said Menefee.
This group isn't satisfied with the governor's proposal to phase in a 20 percent raise for teachers by 2020.
They say it doesn't have a guaranteed funding source and leaves out support staff.
Teachers also want funding levels restored to what they were before the recession.
Joe Thomas, AEA President, said, "it's ten years of neglect. We understood in 2008 that we were gonna have to weather some cuts. Everyone was gonna have to tighten their belts because we went into a recession, but we've not seen that money come back to our schools."
Teachers hopeful two days of striking will force lawmakers and the governor to give in to their demands.
Organizers hope these people will come out for another similar rally tomorrow starting at 10 a.m.
