The Chicago Teachers’ Union (CTU) is under fire after posting a tribute on social media honoring [1] Assata Shakur, a convicted cop killer and fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List.
The union’s official account wrote, “Rest in Power, Rest in Peace, Assata Shakur. Today we honor the life and legacy of a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation, and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle.”
The post also included a quote attributed to Shakur: “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
X’s Community Notes feature quickly flagged the post, pointing out Shakur’s criminal history.
Rest in Power, Rest in Peace, Assata Shakur. ️
Today we honor the life and legacy of a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation, and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle.
Assata refused to be silenced. She taught… pic.twitter.com/SsoIg7MU8w [2]
— Chicago Teachers Union (@CTULocal1) September 27, 2025 [3]
The note stated that she was convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault after killing a New Jersey State Trooper in 1973.
Shakur, whose legal name is Joanne Chesimard, was also placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List after escaping prison and fleeing to Cuba, where she is believed to still reside.
According to the FBI, Shakur and two accomplices were pulled over on May 2, 1973, on the New Jersey Turnpike by state troopers.
Gunfire broke out, leaving one trooper wounded and another, Werner Foerster, killed at point-blank range.
Shakur was captured and later convicted in 1977 of murder, assault and battery of a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to kill, armed robbery, and illegal possession of a weapon.
She was sentenced to life in prison but escaped in 1979 with the help of armed allies and resurfaced in Cuba in 1984.
The CTU’s tribute drew swift criticism.
One widely shared response on X read: “Only 18% of black students meet math proficiency standards in Chicago public schools. Rather than honoring a cop killer, maybe try to focus your attention on educating your students?”
Only 18% of black students meet math proficiency standards in Chicago public schools.
Rather than honoring a cop killer, maybe try to focus your attention on educating your students?
— i/o (@avidseries) September 27, 2025 [4]
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also condemned the post, writing, “Shameful and depraved. She was convicted of the murder New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, who was executed in cold blood. There are so many worthy heroes to celebrate. She is not one of them.”
Shameful and depraved.
She was convicted of the murder New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, who was executed in cold blood.
There are so many worthy heroes to celebrate. She is not one of them. https://t.co/AIvtc53tD1 [5]
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 27, 2025 [6]
Townhall columnist Dustin Grage wrote on X, “The Chicago Teacher’s Union just got slapped with a BRUTAL community note after celebrating the life of a convicted cop killer. These people are tasked with teaching our children.”
The Chicago Teacher’s Union just got slapped with a BRUTAL community note after celebrating the life of a convicted cop killer.
These people are tasked with teaching our children. pic.twitter.com/AVYQXt9miU [7]
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) September 27, 2025 [8]
The incident also reignited discussion of the CTU’s past ties to radical groups.
Chicago Policy Center Director Austin Berg highlighted the union’s connection to the group Assata’s Daughters, named after Shakur.
Berg noted that the group’s founder spoke at a CTU strike in April 2016, making anti-police remarks, and that the union continued to promote Assata’s Daughters as a “vetted organization” as recently as 2020.
Berg added, “The Chicago Teachers Union has long partnered with local police and prison abolitionist group Assata’s Daughters. This kind of behavior is the best argument for school choice in Chicago. An extremist political machine should not have a monopoly on publicly funded education.”
The Chicago Teachers Union has long partnered with local police and prison abolitionist group Assata’s Daughters.
Their founder spoke at a CTU strike in April 2016, saying “Fuck the police. Fuck CPD … fuck the police and everybody [who] fucks with them.”
Yet as recently as… https://t.co/8B1HxKcLvt [9] pic.twitter.com/Euze5iE7C6 [10]
— Austin Berg (@Austin__Berg) September 27, 2025 [11]
The controversy comes amid ongoing criticism of CTU leadership.
In 2023, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates and Vice President Jackson Potter successfully lobbied to eliminate Illinois’ only school choice program, the Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program.
The tribute remains a point of contention as parents, officials, and community leaders question why the union chose to celebrate a convicted cop killer rather than focus on improving educational outcomes for Chicago’s students.