Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Aug. 22, 2023. (WTTW News)
A Chicago Public Schools principal has filed an incident report with the Chicago Police Department, saying that Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates called for union members to commit an act of violence against him.
According to a copy of the Jan. 26 police report obtained by WTTW News, William Hozian, principal of Stevenson Elementary School at 8040 S. Kostner Ave., reported that Davis-Gates spoke to attendees at a union meeting and said, “In talking to my Stevenson brothers and sisters, I told them they should punch their principal in the face.”
Hozian said the information was relayed to him by two witnesses who attended the meeting, according to the police report. The two witnesses provided written statements about the comment to police.
In the report, which was taken by officers at the school, Hozian said that he found the “incident and comments very concerning,” and says he wanted to document it to police.
In a series of posts Wednesday night on X, formerly known as Twitter, the CTU said in part: “We believe that this police report was filed in reference to a figurative comment made by President Davis Gates during impromptu remarks to union members at CTU’s union hall in January, while talking about using the contract to challenge principals who bully our members.”
Hozian did not return calls or messages seeking comment.
Hozian also reported that on Jan. 17, “a teacher approached him and told him that another teacher heard that he/she will slash the tires of the principal’s vehicle,” the police report reads.
The case was closed and determined non-criminal in nature, according to a police spokesperson.
Davis Gates did not return calls for comment.
In a statement, CPS spokesperson said, “while we don’t speak to the details of a specific staff or student incident, we were made aware that a non-criminal report was filed with the Chicago Police Department and we are providing staff with supports as needed.”
Note: This article was updated to include a statement from the CTU and CPS.
Follow Paris Schutz on Twitter: @paschutz
