Dee Snider Dedicates "We're Not Gonna Take It" To Striking Teachers

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider dedicated their classic anti-authority anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It" to the teachers on strike in Oklahoma during a performance of “Rocktopia” at the Broadway Theatre in New York City. As Dee took the stage, he said “this one's for all the teachers out there tonight." The Twisted Sister track has been used as the teachers as a rallying cry for their strike, who have walked out and closed their doors as teachers unions demand higher wages, more supplies, and better working conditions. 

CBS News reports that "We're Not Gonna Take It" has become the official anthem of the striking teachers. An estimated 36,000 teachers have joined the movement. 

Snider has been vocal in his support for the teachers, tweeting “While I totally support underpaid teacher's cause, it is kind of weird that a song that was on the ‘Filthy 15’ is now every oppressed groups battle cry.”

Snider's first show was on April 9th with Rocktopia and has him performing songs he's never before sung live. Rocktopia is a concert event that joins together some the most iconic 20th-century rock with renowned classical masterpieces. 

"I don't need more than one [rehearsal]," Snider told Q104.3 New York's Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein. "I'm good. I'm singing 'Kashmir,' I'm singing 'Stairway [to Heaven],' I'm singing 'Dream On'—these classic songs."

"People seem to like the symphonic rock thing. Here they are literally taking classical music and combining it with rock music. So you've got opera singers on stage and you've got me on stage, showing 'em how it's done."

"We're Not Gonna Take It" has been Twisted Sisters' biggest hit throughout their career. It has been used by various politicians including Donald Trump and Paul Ryan. Snider asked them both to stop using the song on their campaign trails. 

Watch footage of Dee Snider performing with Rocktopia below: 

Photo Credit: Getty