OAKLAND, Calif. Thousands of teachers in Oakland, California, went on strike Thursday, demanding higher wages for teachers and more resources for students in their district.

The Oakland Education Association, who organized the strike on behalf of 3,000 Oakland educators , are demanding a 12 percent raise in salary, smaller class sizes and more counselors and nurses for students.

After being unable to reach an agreement with the school district, the union called for the Thursday strike. Teachers picketed at their schools in the morning, then hundreds rallied together at Oaklands city hall at Frank Ogawa Plaza midday. Some chanted, Which side are you on, board, which side are you on? They planned to picket again at school closing times.

Were on strike for our students, said Estefania Rodriguez, a sixth-grade humanities teacher at Alliance Academy in what she called deep east Oakland, where there are majority black and brown students. She noted that wage increases mattered, but more important were additional resources to serve students. Were asking for the education our students deserve.

Oakland teachers, in a district serving 37,000 students, are the latest to demand more pay and better classroom conditions. Tens of thousands of educators in Los Angeles went on strike last month, and won a better agreement, as did West Virginia teachers earlier this week.

Leading Democratic lawmakers in California expressed support for the striking teachers in Oakland, including Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) who said teachers deserve a living wage, proper resources, and our support.

Teachers invest their time and energy to educate the future of our country, and they deserve our support, tweeted Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who is running for president in 2020.

All teachers want this strike to be as short as possible. Rodriguez added, saying the strike planned to continue into Friday, and until their demands were met. We want to be back in our classrooms with our students. But were striking until we have an offer that is sustainable.