January 5, 2026 — The Americans For Fair Treatment (AFFT) is expressing deep concern over the Chicago Teachers Union’s (CTU) recent promotion of protests linked to Venezuela and organized by far-left socialist groups. On Saturday, the CTU posted a flyer on its official X account directing activists to gather at Federal Plaza in Chicago to protest U.S. actions in Venezuela.
The event was organized by groups including the ANSWER Coalition, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Students for Justice in Palestine, along with other socialist-aligned organizations. The CTU’s post read: “EMERGENCY PROTEST: NO WAR ON VENEZUELA. STOP THE BOMBINGS. Join us in the streets to demand an end to U.S. aggression against Venezuela.”
AFFT CEO Chip Rogers released the following statement:
“Our children matter. Teachers matter. When a union prioritizes promoting foreign political agendas and regime-change protests over the education of their students, it sends a troubling message about priorities and judgment. Public education exists to serve students, not political activism. Chicago families deserve leaders who focus on the classroom, not ideology.”
The promotion of the protest has drawn criticism from the public and online commentators, many questioning how involvement in foreign political activism aligns with the mission of educating Chicago’s students.
“It is unacceptable for any union, particularly one representing educators, to lend its institutional weight to partisan or ideological causes abroad. Students in Chicago deserve their educators’ full attention, not messaging campaigns that normalize activism for authoritarian regimes.”