With CPS Board President Forced Out, Remaining Members Pledge to Ensure All Students Feel Safe
Meeting Held Without Embattled Leader, Focus Shifts to Providing a Safe Education for All Students
Members of the Chicago Board of Education on Friday promised to provide a safe education for all students amid a firestorm of developments that saw the board’s leader resign this week amid accusations of antisemitism and misogyny.
Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson Stepped Down at Mayor’s Request
The school board’s monthly meeting was held without Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, who stepped down as the board president a day earlier at the request of Mayor Brandon Johnson, only a week after he and the other members were sworn into office. The president had faced calls for his resignation from Gov. JB Pritzker, 40 City Council members, and other Jewish and pro-Israel organizations because of social media posts deemed antisemitic, misogynistic, and conspiratorial.
Public Speakers Weigh In
Several public speakers at the meeting commented on the issue, including Dan Goldwin, a spokesman for the Jewish United Fund, a pro-Israel group.
“This past week has been extremely hard for Chicago’s Jewish community,” he told the board.
He cited the shooting of a Jewish man walking to his synagogue in the West Ridge neighborhood in an attack that has now been charged as a hate crime. Goldwin said Rev. Johnson’s social media posts made things more difficult, calling the situation “horrifying and inexcusable.”
“Based on all of this, is it any wonder that Jewish students, parents, teachers, and staff feel unsafe, unheard, and unseen throughout the CPS system?” he asked.
Accusations of Hostility Toward Jews
Goldwin accused two other school board members of “hostility toward Jews,” citing a social media post amplified by member Debby Pope that was anti-Zionist and a letter signed by member Olga Bautista that criticized Israel.
Board Members Respond
There is a range of opinions about Israel and Zionism in the Jewish community. Pope did not address her social media post or her views on Israel, but she revealed that she has a personal stake in the conversation.
“I am a Jewish woman,” Pope said. “I am the child of a mother who witnessed firsthand the murder and brutality against our entire family in Nazi Germany. Not one member of our family survived. I am a teacher who taught about genocide and the Holocaust, especially the Holocaust in Germany and Eastern Europe, throughout my career.”
“I think it’s extremely important for us to make all children in our system comfortable: Jewish children, Palestinian children, Muslim children, Hindu children — everyone must be comfortable and must attend school together,” she said.
“I think that it is important that we put our ideologies aside and focus on children, and focus on their well-being and them feeling safe and comfortable in our schools. Without them feeling safe and comfortable, children cannot learn.”
Conclusion
The Chicago Board of Education has faced a significant setback with the resignation of its president, but the remaining members are committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and supported in their education.
FAQs
* What led to the resignation of Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson?
+ He faced calls for his resignation from Gov. JB Pritzker, 40 City Council members, and other Jewish and pro-Israel organizations due to social media posts deemed antisemitic, misogynistic, and conspiratorial.
* What is the focus of the remaining board members?
+ The board members have pledged to ensure that all students feel safe and supported in their education, despite the controversy surrounding the former president.
* How did public speakers respond to the situation?
+ Several public speakers, including a representative from the Jewish United Fund, expressed concern about the impact of the controversy on the Jewish community and called for a safe and inclusive education for all students.
