Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Teachers Union Officially Revokes Endorsement Of LAUSD Candidate
A Los Angeles Unified School District bus arrives to James Monroe High School on the first day of the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023.
(
Ashley Balderrama
/
for LAist
)
Topline:
The union representing 35,000 Los Angeles Unified educators voted Monday night to withdraw its endorsement for Board District 1 candidate Kahllid Al-Alim. Al-Alim apologized in February for antisemitic social media activity.
The backstory: Al-Alim is a longtime community organizer and L.A. parent. In February, users of X, formerly known as Twitter, began sharing screenshots showing Al-Alim liking and sharing antisemitic posts. In one, Al-Alim writes that a book that promotes debunked, antisemitic ideas about the relationships between the Black and Jewish communities should be mandatory reading for students. Al-Alim apologized and said he would seek trainings about countering antisemitism.
Why now: UTLA suspended its campaign for Al-Alim about a week after Al-Alim’s prior social media activity resurfaced. The decision to un-endorse Al-Alim, like the original decision to support his candidacy, came after several groups of union educators met and voted. The union’s 250-member House of Representatives finalized the decision Monday night.
Who else can I vote for? Al-Alim is one of seven candidates running to represent the Mid-City and South L.A. communities of Board District 1. If no candidate wins the majority of the vote in the primary, there will be a runoff between the top two candidates in November.
Losing a powerful partner: Teachers Unions Often Pick Winning School Board Candidates. Will This LAUSD Election Be Different?
Trending on LAist
-
Fans have until Jan. 13 to enter the draw for a chance to buy tickets. Results will be announced in February. -
Hydee Feldstein Soto called an opposing side’s expert witness for campaign money before a high-profile trial this fall. Her campaign says she didn’t know about the connection. -
USC found that 25% of those with food insecurity make more than 300% the federal poverty level. -
A state law extended mortgage forbearance for up to a year, but survivors say there’s far more to do. -
One of SoCal's most infamous roads has reopened, but locals don't want you to know — for good reason'The Snake,' a 2.4-mile stretch of Mulholland Drive, is known for its hairpin turns and the legions of motorists looking to tame it. -
Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to federal prison for his role in the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry.
Best of LAist
