Chicago schools keep teacher who mocked Charlie Kirk’s murder

OPINION:

Chicago Public Schools should have fired Lucy Martinez by now.

Ms. Martinez, as many will recall, is the Nathan Hale Elementary School teacher who, according to an Oct. 22 Fox News report, in the immediate aftermath of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s murder in front of the entire country, was caught on video at a “No Kings” protest pointing an imaginary gun to her neck and shouting “Bang, bang” in an apparent mockery of the gruesome assassination.

Ms. Martinez should have been immediately banned from ever going anywhere near a school after this, not to mention never again allowed to influence and mold the thoughts and minds of America’s children. Yet despite public outrage, no announcement of her termination has been reported.

Of course, the fact that Ms. Martinez is based in Chicago — which has fallen into complete mayhem because Mayor Brandon Johnson has lured illegal immigrants with his sanctuary city policy that even billionaire Ken Griffin fled — surely has something to do with it.

It’s a guaranteed recipe for disaster when Democratic-supporting crackpots are in charge.

Chicago’s crime and lawlessness are so bad that hoodlum children are increasingly attacking people on the streets, according to reports.

Of course, when a teacher, who is supposed to be a role model for students, can use a hand gesture to support political violence and remain employed in the classroom, it’s not hard to figure out why all hell is breaking out, with even the very young becoming violent offenders.

Yet, by all accounts, Chicago Public Schools seems intent on providing Ms. Martinez political cover (much like Mr. Johnson has backed unruly rioters when they have attacked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents). In a letter sent to parents, Nathan Hale Elementary not only refused to condemn Ms. Martinez but also actually portrayed her as some sort of victim in need of protection. Talk about a savvy attempt at flipping the script.

What’s more, at the same time that Chicago Public Schools officials appear to be digging in their heels to keep Ms. Martinez employed, they are deterring Christians from becoming teachers. According to a recent lawsuit, the school system told Moody Bible College that none of its students may participate in Chicago Public Schools’ student teaching program unless the college abandons “Biblically based doctrinal positions on human sexuality.”

Although this action screams unconstitutionality, precisely what Rep. Tim Walberg, Michigan Republican, has stated in his letter to Chicago Public Schools, it also exposes something we already figured: Chicago Public Schools is led by a bunch of crazy leftist ideologues, just like Lucy Martinez. They may have even joined her at the “No Kings” protest, given that these rallies have been a draw for far-left radicals who work at schools.

In fact, it turns out that another educational professional went to a “No Kings” protest in Chicago the same day as Ms. Martinez. He became so unhinged that he yelled from a bullhorn that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should be “shot.”

Chicago Public Schools’ standing behind Lucy Martinez is just as dangerous as Mr. Johnson’s refusal to rebuke perpetrators of criminal attacks against ICE agents, which have escalated so much that Border Patrol has even come under gunfire. Yet because Mr. Johnson is a master twister of truth, his condemnation has been directed at immigration officers only for using tear gas to protect themselves.

We already know Chicago schools are terrible, with the majority of students flunking the fundamentals. Data from 2024 shows that just 30.5% of students in grades three through eight were proficient in reading, and just 18.3% were proficient in math.

This doesn’t seem to matter. Chicago Public Schools clearly cares most about keeping out teachers who won’t toe the leftist line and retaining those who do, even when they promote violence. In other words, there is no chance that Chicago’s academic failing performance will turn around anytime soon if teachers like Lucy Martinez are preferred instead.

No wonder Chicago is in such a state of despair.

• Pastor John K. Amanchukwu Sr. is a conservative Black influential preacher, author and a TPUSA contributor. https://iknowgod.us/.