CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - One week after Rev. Mitchell Johnson was sworn in as president of the Chicago Board of Education, the mayor's office has confirmed that Johnson is resigning from his post.
The move followed the release of a letter signed by a majority of city council members who, on Wednesday, called on Rev. Johnson to resign from his post over his past social media posts. In a statement, Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the posts as "antisemitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial.
"Rev. Mitchell Johnson's statements were not only hurtful but deeply disturbing," the mayor said in a statement. "I want to be clear: antisemitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial statements are unacceptable."
Earlier this week, a report from Jewish Insider found that Rev. Johnson had a long history of posting anti-semitic comments online, including pro-Hamas statements made since the group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
Prior to Mayor Johnson's announcement, Gov. JB Pritzker joined the chorus of voices demanding a resignation.
"Any person charged with the stewardship of the Chicago Public School Board must exemplify focused, inclusive, and steady leadership,” Pritzker wrote. “The views expressed in the current chair's posts - antisemitism, misogyny, fringe conspiracy theories - very clearly do not meet that standard. We owe it to our students, families, and teachers to provide the highest quality education, and that begins at the top by setting a positive example of kindness and inclusivity. Given that he has failed to live up to these values, I believe it is in the best interest of our schools and our children for the Chair to resign."
Three Chicago City Council members made similar points on Thursday morning at an early voting site on the South Side.
Alderman Bill Conway was among those who signed a statement saying Johnson’s continued role on the school board is “non negotiable.”
“First of all, I was speaking out against him when I found out he was disbarred in the state of Ohio for misuse of client funds…I hope that the mayor will get him to resign, just like he got the last board of education to resign, frankly,” Conway said.
Council members Pat Dowell and Nicole Lee also wanted to see Johnson go.
Dowell said she questions the extent to which Johnson was vetted.
Mayor Johnson said his office will "proceed promptly to identify a qualified individual who shares our dedication to educational excellence and will serve with an unwavering commitment to the values we hold dear."
WBBM's Mike Krauser and Jim Gudas contributed to this report.
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