Teachers Union in Chicago supports Venezuela protest alongside socialist organizations

Protest Against U.S. Actions in Venezuela Organized by Chicago Teachers Union

On Saturday, the Chicago Teachers Union called for a protest in response to U.S. actions in Venezuela, a movement facilitated by far-left groups that openly endorse socialism.

Activists from the ANSWER coalition and the Socialist Liberation Party organized the event shortly after it was reported that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had been captured by U.S. special forces during a midnight operation. By the afternoon, protesters had assembled in various U.S. cities, armed with signs and materials made for the occasion.

At 1 p.m., the Chicago Teachers Union updated its website with information about the protest, encouraging participants to meet at Federal Plaza at 5 p.m.

The announcement included a plea: “Urgent protest: No war on Venezuela. Please stop the bombing.” It called on people to join in demanding an end to U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

The post mirrored the flyer, which also noted the event’s sponsors.

Some users on X expressed skepticism about the Union’s priorities. One commenter questioned, “How is this helping educate Chicago’s children?” while another asked, “Have you ever actually focused on teaching?” Another contributor opined, “Are you guys teachers or activists?” suggesting that they thought the bombing had already ceased.

In addition to ANSWER and the Socialist Liberation Party, the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) were named among the event’s co-sponsors, along with several other groups focused on Palestine and environmental issues.

ANSWER, according to its website, was formed just days after the September 11 attacks in 2001, aiming to rally against warfare and occupation in the Middle East.

Interestingly, Maduro had recently given an interview about a potential olive branch from Trump just days before his arrest by U.S. forces.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation labels capitalism as a “crisis” and believes the only solution is “socialist social change.” It attributes various social issues—like racism and poverty—to capitalism itself.

The SJP has faced controversy for its actions on university campuses during the recent Gaza war, which ended with a ceasefire in October. Following this, an Instagram post mentioned that a Palestinian journalist was killed after the ceasefire, alleging that the fight against Zionism must continue.

In 2024, a global law firm reportedly sued SJP, claiming it provided significant support to Hamas. Additionally, a chapter at Yale University, which celebrated an attack by Hamas as a “historic victory,” was expelled due to what was described as “disturbing anti-Semitic acts.”