Teachers Union Tries To Cancel School So Students Can Protest Trump With Them
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The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is asking the local school board to excuse student absences so they can participate in an anti-Trump protest organized by the union.
CTU, along with several other unions, is planning a one-day strike on May 1 to protest what it describes as President Donald Trump’s “rising authoritarianism.” The union is urging supporters to push Chicago Public Schools to allow students to take the day off and to designate May 1 as an official “day of civic action.”
While teachers plan to walk off the job and encourage students to stay home from school, the union says the event is intended to support students in Chicago.
“In Chicago and Illinois, we are fighting for full funding for the schools our students deserve and pushing back against Trump’s rising authoritarianism,” the union said in a March 11 announcement. “On May 1, we will stand up for our students, our schools, and our neighbors through mutual aid, educational events, marches, rallies, and more throughout the day.”
The union also criticized the president’s policies, claiming they benefit wealthy individuals and divert resources away from schools. It said the planned demonstrations are meant to show the collective influence of labor groups and community organizations.
The protest is part of a broader nationwide effort focused on increasing school funding and raising opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, wealthy elites, and the Iran war.
Jackson Potter, CTU’s vice president, said the event is intended to demonstrate civic engagement to students. In a statement posted to the union’s Facebook page, Potter said that showing students what civic action looks like involves more than classroom instruction, particularly during times of political conflict.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has indicated support for the union’s plan, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Johnson previously received significant campaign support from the teachers union. Illinois state law allows students to take one excused absence each year to participate in a “civic event.”
The Chicago Teachers Union has faced controversy in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the union pushed to keep schools closed into 2022, opposing reopening plans supported by some parents and by the school district.
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