A Chicago Public Schools elementary school principal says the president of the Chicago Teachers Union told teachers to “punch their principal in the face” last week at a union meeting on the Near West Side, according to a Chicago police report.
The comments were made at about 12:40 p.m. Jan. 25 at CTU headquarters, 1901 W. Carroll Ave., according to the report.
William Hozian, the principal of Stevenson Elementary School, 8010 S. Kostner Ave., filed the police report the next day.
CTU president Stacy Davis Gates, a close ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson, allegedly made the comment during a speech to union members.
“In talking to my Stevenson sisters, I told them that they should punch their principal in the face,” Davis Gates said, according to the report made to police.
Hozian, who couldn’t be reached for comment, told the police he found the incident and Davis Gates’ comments “very concerning,” according to the police.
Davis Gates did not respond to requests for comment.
In an email to union members, CTU officials said Davis Gates was speaking metaphorically.
“We believe that this police report was filed in reference to a figurative comment made by President Davis Gates during impromptu remarks to union members … while talking about using the contract to challenge principals who bully our members,” the email said.
It said Davis Gates was talking about “punching” back when talking about members using the power of the contract to push back against bullying.
“The intentional mischaracterization of our president’s language while encouraging members to advocate for themselves and use their contract is an attempt to smear our union in the same way that a bad manager attempts to bully workers,” the CTU email said.
A CTU spokesperson said Thursday the case had been closed and marked as no-criminal. Police didn’t comment on the case.
CPS officials said they were aware of the incident.
“While we don’t speak to the details of a specific staff or student incident, we were made aware that a non-criminal report was filed with the Chicago Police Department and we are providing staff with supports as needed,” a written statement from CPS said.
