CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has come under criticism due to a social media post that lauded a controversial Black activist who recently passed away.
Assata Shakur, a member of the Black Liberation Army, had been convicted of killing a New Jersey State trooper in the 1970s.
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On Monday, several members of the Chicago City Council voiced their disapproval of the post, highlighting that it seemed to endorse violence and extremism. These alderpersons criticized CTU for celebrating a fugitive who was convicted of murder and urged Mayor Brandon Johnson to publicly reject the post.
The activist in question, Shakur, who is the godmother of the well-known rapper Tupac Shakur, received a life sentence for the murder of a state trooper in a 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Originally named Joanne Chesimard, Shakur was added to the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list after she escaped from prison in 1979 and found refuge in Cuba. She was affiliated with the Black Liberation Army, a militant group linked to violent acts such as bombings, bank heists, and the killings of police officers during the 1970s.
Following her death on September 25, CTU shared a post on the social media platform X, stating, “Today, we honor the life and legacy of a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle.”
A group of alderpersons called that post irresponsible.
Ald. Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward commented, “Why is this important? Because when union leaders elevate figures associated with one of the most violent groups in America’s history, they are imparting a harmful message to our children that violence and extremism are acceptable routes to change.”
“We live in a time when law enforcement officers across our city and nation are already under threat. Praising someone with this history of violence is not just misguided, it puts our local police officers in danger,” said 50th Ward Ald. Debra Silverstein.
In a statement, CTU fired back, saying those alders “are focusing on a tweet commemorating a history they do not understand, and prefer to ignore or misrepresent.”
“The left feels that she was wrongly convicted. They don’t buy the fact that she’s a cop killer. So, from the CTU’s perspective, this is a legitimate person to be honored, because she was, they say, a freedom fighter,” said ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington.
Mayor Brandon Johnson refused to denounce the post by his former employer on Monday.
“Assata Shakur’s death and controversial past also serves to highlight the racial and political divide in this country, and she will likely remain a figure who is reviled by some, while revered by others,” Johnson said.
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