New Chicago school board president faces calls to resign over social media posts

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s choice to lead the Chicago Board of Education has drawn criticism for his social media posts about the war between Israel and Hamas, with more than half of the City Council calling on him to step down.

The 26 alders who signed on to a joint statement said Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson’s pro-Hamas and antisemitic social media posts included one after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack in Israel said, “People have an absolute right to attack their oppressors by any means necessary.” In another, Johnson wrote, “My Jewish colleagues appear drunk with the Israeli power and will live to see their payment.”

News of the posts was first reported Tuesday by Jewish Insider.

The alders said Johnson and his team didn’t thoroughly vet the new school board, which was appointed after the previous members resigned en masse.

Calls for Rev. Johnson’s resignation also came from the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest and the American Jewish Committee.

In an evening statement to WGN, Rev. Johnson apologized 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.”

Asked about the controversy after his budget proposal to the City Council, Mayor Johnson said he doesn’t subscribe to the sentiments the reverend shared and said he appreciated the apology.

“I know he has since come forth and has apologized for his comments and how harmful they have been to the people of the Jewish community,” the mayor said. “I know he’s going to continue to work and sit down with Jewish leaders in the city of Chicago and beyond to begin to work toward restoration and healing.”

Gov. JB Pritzker said he was withholding judgement and gave the board chief the benefit of the doubt.

“I think we should hear from the chair more about what his positions really are. He’s written things, but people can change, theoretically, change their views,” the governor said.

Alders who signed the statement include Debra Silverstein (50th Ward), Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward), Michelle Harris (8th Ward), Anthony Beale (9th Ward), Peter Chico (10th Ward), Nicole Lee (11th Ward), Marty Quinn (13th Ward), Raymond Lopez (15th Ward), Stephanie Coleman (16th Ward), Derrick Curtis (18th Ward), Matthew O’Shea (19th Ward), Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward), Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward), Monique Scott (24th Ward), Felix Cardona (31st Ward), Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward), Bill Conway (34th Ward), Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward), Emma Mitts (37th Ward), Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward), Samantha Nugent (39th Ward), Anthony Napolitano (41st Ward), Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward) and Bennett Lawson (44th Ward).

Rev. Johnson’s Full Statement:

“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.

Thank you for your patience.“