Taking “unhinged” to new levels, union boss Randi Weingarten warned of “fascism” and “violence” as she rolled out an apparent enemies list that included former President Donald Trump.
(Video Credit: AFTHQ)
Speaking Monday at the opening session of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Convention in Houston, Texas, President Weingarten seemed determined to top the “All the things!” rant from National Education Association President Becky Pringle.
Referring to opponents of Marxist ideology in government-run schools as “extremists” who “fear what we do,” Weingarten dialed up the rhetoric on the stakes of the election as she asserted, “The November elections will determine which path we take as a nation. Progress is possible, but so is the eradication of the rights and freedoms we hold dear.”
“…it is seldom a dramatic event or attack that lets fascism in the door. The violence comes later after they are voted in,” the union leader told attendees whom she asked, “Does anyone in this room doubt that if Donald Trump is given a choice between what is good for him and what is good for working families, which he would choose?”
“No!” came the response.
Earlier that day, AFT delegates voted to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the new presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, and as she closed out her speech she denied her own record on masking and lockdowns as she leaned heavily on the propaganda talking points, “Imagine a country where hate has no harbor, and freedom rings! The freedom to vote, to live, to breathe! The freedom to marry! The freedom for families to make reproductive choices! The freedom to read! The freedom to teach and the freedom to join a union!”
Along with demonizing Trump, the screen behind Weingarten at one point displayed a who’s who of figures supporting school choice that included Corey DeAngelis, Christopher Rufo, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, and even social media maven Chaya Raichik.
“Teacher union boss just went on stage and labeled all these people a threat to the public school system. INCREDIBLE HONOR!” the latter posted via her Libs of TikTok account. “Thank you @rweingarten! WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.”
Teacher union boss just went on stage and labeled all these people a threat to the public school system.
INCREDIBLE HONOR! Thank you @rweingarten!
WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION pic.twitter.com/Wyb1nOsMtL
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 22, 2024
Likewise, when DeAngelis highlighted, “It’s great to be on the side of parents with both of you, @realchrisrufo & [former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos]. We are winning,” Rufo reacted, “This is awesome.”
This is awesome. https://t.co/9wv3syEb4f
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) July 22, 2024
Earlier in the month, Pringle served up a similar “unhinged” spectacle that had many comparing her to Benito Mussolini by way of Dwight Schrute from “The Office.”
“We are the heirs of all who did this work before us. We must keep going. NEA delegates, we can do this work. We must do this work. We get to do this work. We will do this work because our students are depending on us to win all the things,” she railed before ending, “NEA we have to win all the things! All the things! All the things!”
Labor union president channels Dwight Schrute in speech that goes viral for being UNHINGED https://t.co/4rIMiWwrLQ
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) July 8, 2024
In her own close that led into a track from the Hillary Clinton-produced Broadway show “Suffs,” Weingarten declared, “When the history books are written about this moment, let them record that we the people united, mobilized, and voted down this existential threat to democracy and freedom! That we continued to march for progress! That we laid the foundation for a better future! And that we sought to create a more perfect union! Progress is possible! Keep marching!”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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