It has been less than a week since Mayor Brandon Johnson swore in the new CPS Board President, Rev. Mitchell Johnson. However, before the new board president could settle in, he is already facing calls for his resignation.
Johnson has been asked to resign due to his antisemitic and anti-Israel comments made on Facebook.
According to JewishInsider.com, Rev. Johnson has posted pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas content that questions why the U.S. supports Israel. Since the discovery, most of the posts have been deleted.
After letters from the Israeli Consulate, Anti-Defamation League, and other groups requesting Rev. Johnson to step down, Mayor Johnson shared his views on the situation.
Rev. Johnson has “expressed sorrow and is seeking atonement for his words that he has expressed.” said Mayor Johnson following a city council meeting. – via ABC7.com
Rev. Johnson is not only facing backlash from the Chicago Jewish community his character is also in question by the Governor.
“You can you miss things in people’s vets sure, but feels like Facebook posts are pretty easy to find,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “You do have question who vetted him.”
The school board president has made a statement expressing his apologies for the social media posts.
Full statement via Rev. Mitchell Johnson
“I want to take a moment to apologize to the Jewish community. The remarks I posted were reactive and insensitive, and I am deeply sorry for not being more precise and deliberate in my comments posted last year. Since then, I have asked for and received feedback from my Jewish friends and colleagues, who helped me be more thoughtful in the way I address these sensitive matters.
Throughout my career, I have worked hand in hand with the Jewish community in Chicago to fight antisemitism. Whether it was rooting out antisemitism directly at AEPI Alpha Epsilon Pi or fighting for investments in the far south side at Developing Communities Project (DCP), those experiencing injustice and discrimination have no greater friend than they have in me.
As board president, I am committed to making sure that antisemitism and hate of any kind have no place in Chicago Public Schools.”
In a world where cancel culture has established a standard, is there room for grace? Can CPS and its members hold Johnson accountable without him resigning?
Be a part of the conversation and let us know your thoughts.
