A two-day conference featuring various activist groups took place at the Chicago Teachers Union headquarters, drawing criticism from education advocates. The event included workshops on protest strategies, coalition building, and fundraising, among other topics. Josh Weiner, Chief Advocacy Officer of the North American Values Institute, expressed concerns that the conference's focus was not aligned with educational priorities, stating that it promotes a political agenda rather than empowering teachers in the classroom.
While the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) was not an official sponsor of the event, the venue displayed union branding. Conference organizers named rooms after political figures and activists, and speakers included representatives from several activist organizations, including the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
Resolutions passed at the conference called for ending U.S. aid to Israel and supporting Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns. Weiner criticized the union for maintaining a distance from the conference while still being associated with its organizers. He argued that the educational focus should be on foundational knowledge rather than political activism, warning that such events could influence educational practices in other cities as well.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Chicago Teachers Union and the Anti-War Action Network for comments regarding the conference.