Chicago Teachers Union Seeks Student Absence Excusal for Protest

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is requesting that the local school board allow students to be excused from school to attend an anti-Trump protest organized by the union.

CTU, alongside other unions, has planned a one-day strike on May 1 to protest what they term President Donald Trump’s “rising authoritarianism.” They are urging supporters to demand that Chicago Public Schools declare the day off for students, calling for May 1 to be designated as a day of civic action.

Despite the union’s call for students to miss school and teachers refusing to work, they claim the action is aimed at benefitting Chicago students.

In a statement released on March 11, the union said, “In Chicago and Illinois, we are battling for full funding for the schools our students deserve and pushing back against Trump’s rising authoritarianism. 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.”

They further emphasized that “with the President attempting to solidify his power, using our school budgets for his illegal wars and favors for billionaires, our students and coworkers need us to demonstrate the strength of labor and community together.”

This demonstration is part of a wider national initiative not only to secure more funding for schools but also to voice opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, billionaire influences, and the Iran War.

Jackson Potter, CTU’s vice president, noted that “teaching our students what civic action looks like requires more than textbooks, especially when the President sends federal agents to occupy our cities while the Governor continues to provide tax breaks to billionaires instead of offering our students the school day they deserve,” in a statement shared on the union’s Facebook page.

Support for the union’s plan has also been indicated by Socialist Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has received significant campaign contributions from the CTU.

Illinois law permits students to have one excused absence to participate in “civic events.”

The Chicago Teachers Union has been involved in controversies for quite some time, particularly when they chose to keep schools closed due to COVID-19, even into 2022, ignoring both parents’ wishes and the district’s reopening plans.