Chicago Teachers Union Faces Backlash for Promoting Venezuela Protest
In a move that has drawn significant criticism, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) promoted an “emergency protest” against U.S. military action in Venezuela just hours after American special forces captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. The union’s social media post, which appeared on their official X account Saturday afternoon, directed activists to gather at Federal Plaza, sparking questions about the organization’s priorities and political alignments.
The protest flyer shared by the CTU called for an “end to U.S. aggression against Venezuela” and was co-sponsored by several organizations with far-left political affiliations. Among these groups were the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Other co-sponsors included the Palestinian Feminist Collective, Palestinian Youth Movement, and the Illinois Green Party. This alliance of organizations—some with openly socialist ideologies—raised eyebrows and prompted social media users to question the teachers union’s involvement in geopolitical activism rather than education-focused initiatives.
Critics on social media quickly challenged the CTU’s decision to promote the rally, with comments directly questioning how such political activism serves Chicago’s students. “How is this helping the education of children in Chicago?” asked one user, while another pointedly inquired, “Do you ever actually focus on teaching?” These reactions highlight the ongoing tension between the union’s educational mission and its broader political advocacy. The timing of the protest promotion—coming immediately after a major U.S. military operation—further amplified the controversy surrounding the CTU’s decision to align with these specific political groups.
The ANSWER Coalition, one of the primary organizers of the protest, was founded just three days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to advocate against U.S. military interventions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, another key organizer, explicitly describes capitalism as a “crisis” on its website and advocates for a “socialist transformation of society” as the solution to various social problems including racism, gender-based violence, and poverty. These ideological positions reflect a political alignment that many critics see as disconnected from the core educational mission of a teachers union.
Students for Justice in Palestine, another co-sponsor of the event, has been embroiled in controversy since organizing protests on college campuses during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The group faced significant backlash after an October social media post called for “death to Zionism” following the announcement of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. SJP’s Yale University chapter was disbanded by the school administration after what was described as “disturbing anti-semitic conduct,” including celebrating the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli civilians as a “historic win for the Palestinian resistance.” In 2024, SJP was sued by a global law firm alleging that the organization provided “substantial assistance” to Hamas.
The Chicago Teachers Union did not respond to requests for comment about its decision to promote the Venezuela protest or its association with these controversial groups. This incident highlights the increasingly blurred line between educational advocacy and broader political activism among teacher unions in the United States. As teachers’ organizations like the CTU continue to engage in political causes beyond traditional labor issues, questions persist about whether such activism complements or detracts from their primary mission of advocating for quality education and teacher working conditions.
