The Chicago Teachers Union is suing me

Austin Berg:

On Aug. 17, the Chicago Teachers Union filed a lawsuit naming me and two co-defendants, alleging defamation.1

You can read it here.

Below are three thoughts in response, and two things you can do about it.

1. This lawsuit is an obvious attempt to silence valid criticism and dissent. I stand behind my reporting 100%. In the footnotes, you can find each piece published in The Last Ward that is mentioned in the lawsuit.2
2. My team and I will continue reporting on the inner-workings and consequences of the union’s political machine. Chicagoans, including rank-and-file teachers frustrated by CTU’s leadership, deserve nothing less.3
3. My sincere thanks to every journalist, friend, colleague, reader — and especially, every Chicago teacher — who has reached out personally with words of support.

Here are two actions you can take to support me and our team.

First, you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Illinois Policy Institute, which will help cover costs associated with this lawsuit and the Chicago Policy Center’s work to make Chicago home to the most effective, accountable, and trustworthy big-city government in the nation.

MAKE A DONATION

Thanks to the generous support of individual donors, every dollar raised up to $250,000 will be matched 1:1, doubling your impact.

And second, if you live in Chicago, please take a moment to request your mail ballot for the November school board election here.

This is the first time in city history that residents will decide on a fully elected school board. And the last time until 2042 that all 21 seats — every district seat plus the citywide presidency — are on the same ballot.

Onward. And thank you.