Weingarten Critiques Conservatives in Latest Commentary

Randy Weingarten, who heads one of the largest teachers’ unions in the country, has labeled conservatives as “fascists” and “authoritarians.” This follows the recent tragic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

In an excerpt from her new book, *Why Fascists Fear Teachers: The Future of Public Education and the Democracy*, published in Rolling Stone on Tuesday, Weingarten discusses the ways parents and conservatives frame education as a form of indoctrination regarding gender ideology. She contends that there’s a push from these groups to suppress educational content, arguing it aligns with fascist tactics aimed at curtailing critical thought.

Some notable excerpts from her article include:

“Democracy embodies the power of the people. Yet, fascists desire one leader or a select group to hold all the power. Currently, we see this unfolding in the U.S. with billionaires like Trump enabling others, like Elon Musk, to effectively act as co-leaders.”

“Authoritarians seek to control the uninformed public by attacking truth and critical thinking. When public education and these skills decline, it leaves citizens vulnerable to misinformation, allowing authoritarian figures, like Trump, to gain support.”

“In essence, those who lean towards authoritarianism often ignore or shy away from critical analysis.”

“It appears that far-right extremists intentionally aim to undermine public education and promote anti-critical thinking.”

“What do fascists do when they fear students might uncover the truth? They resort to banning books. Frankly, I never imagined we would witness such widespread book bans in our country… This draws unsettling parallels to Hitler’s early actions in March 1933. Shortly after gaining power, the Nazis confiscated books from the Institute of Sexual Science, a groundbreaking center focusing on gender and sexuality. They destroyed around 20,000 books as part of their nefarious agenda to restrict knowledge and critical thinking.”

Weingarten’s article was published as part of a broader response to the shocking gun violence resulting in Kirk’s death at just 31 years old, highlighting the tension in political discourse. Afterward, Weingarten faced backlash for her choice of language, including pejorative terms aimed at conservatives. For instance, she used the phrase “Hey fascist! Catch!” This came to light as authorities identified a figure involved in the shooting, who had radical leanings and reportedly had a relationship with someone identifying as transgender.

Weingarten was previously questioned for a post where she seemed to imply support for the shooter, although she later removed that post, acknowledging that it could be misconstrued and reiterating the need to condemn political violence.

Meanwhile, across the nation, some teachers—entrusted by parents with the care of their children—have been dismissed or taken leave for posting about Kirk’s death on social media.

Moreover, Weingarten has played a significant role in advocating for school closures during the pandemic, a decision that has led to significant educational setbacks. A report noted that her union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), alongside the National Education Association (NEA), has invested $43.5 million into progressive initiatives since 2022.