Chicago School Board President Resigns Over Controversial Social Media Posts

The president of the Chicago Board of Education, Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, has resigned just a week after his inauguration due to widespread criticism over his past social media posts. These posts were condemned by elected officials for being anti-Semitic, misogynistic, and for promoting conspiracy theories related to the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Chicago’s Mayor, Brandon Johnson, described the posts as “not only hurtful but profoundly disturbing” and revealed that he had requested Mr. Johnson’s resignation, emphasizing that such statements are “unacceptable.”

In an interview, the 64-year-old former board president defended his history of supporting the Jewish community, referencing his collaboration with the Simon Wiesenthal Center. However, he acknowledged that his remarks “could have been expressed in a way that does not come across as anti-Semitic.”

The controversy arose after a report by The Jewish Insider showcased screenshots from Mr. Johnson’s Facebook account, including posts made after the Hamas terrorist assault on Israel on October 7. These posts referenced the Holocaust and appeared to express support for Hamas. Additionally, other posts concerning women and the September 11 attacks were also criticized.

The resignation was supported by numerous city and state leaders, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who expressed concerns about the vetting procedures. Debra Silverstein, the sole Jewish member of the City Council, also urged Mr. Johnson to apologize and resign, criticizing the vetting process as a “failure of leadership and judgment” by the mayor and his administration.