{"id":265036,"date":"2025-09-29T23:26:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T23:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/265036\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T23:26:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T23:26:12","slug":"chicago-teachers-union-assata-shakur-post-draws-criticism-from-city-council-members-mayor-brandon-johnson-refuses-to-denounce-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/265036\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Teachers Union Assata Shakur post draws criticism from city council members; Mayor Brandon Johnson refuses to denounce it"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Teachers Union is drawing fire on Monday for a social media post that praised a polarizing Black activist who died last week.<\/p>\n

Assata Shakur, a member of the Black Liberation Army, had been convicted of killing a New Jersey State trooper in the 1970s.<\/p>\n

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24\/7. Click here to watch<\/a><\/p>\n

On Monday, some Chicago City Council members condemned the post as promoting violence and extremism. A group of alderpersons called out CTU for glorifying a fugitive who had been sentenced to life in prison for murder, and they called on Mayor Brandon Johnson to denounce the social media post as well.<\/p>\n

Shakur, the godmother of rapper Tupac Shakur, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a state trooper in 1973 during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike.<\/p>\n

Born Joanne Chesimard, Shakur landed on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list after she escaped prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba. She was a member of the militant Black Liberation Army which was connected to bombings, bank robberies and the murders of numerous police officers in the 1970s.<\/p>\n

After her death on Sept. 25<\/a>, CTU posted on X, saying, “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.”<\/p>\n

A group of alderpersons called that post irresponsible.<\/p>\n

“Why does this matter? Because when union leaders elevate someone tied to one of the most violent groups in American history, they are sending our children a dangerous message that violence and extremism are acceptable paths to change,” said 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

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.”<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

Mayor Brandon Johnson refused to denounce the post by his former employer on Monday.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

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