CLEVELAND TEACHERS UNION

The Halle Building, 1228 Euclid Ave. Suite 300 • Cleveland, Ohio 44115 216/861-7676
fax: 216/861-4113
Shari Obrenski, President www.ctu279.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/8/2021

Cleveland Teachers Union
The Halle Building
1228 Euclid Ave. Suite 300
Cleveland, OH 44115
Contact: Meg Ryan Shockey
mryan@ctu279.org
Office 216-861-7676 x231
Cell 440-391-4832

Statement by Shari Obrenski, President of the Cleveland Teachers Union,

on the January 6 Riot at the U. S. Capitol Building

The Cleveland Teachers Union strongly condemns the violent attack on our democratic institutions
that occurred this week. Rioters who broke the law should be held fully accountable. Our national
affiliate has called for the immediate removal of President Trump for instigating this assault on our
country.

We are aware of reports of a Cleveland educator who engaged in rioting in the Capitol. We take these
allegations very seriously and if true, they must be held accountable.

While we support the right to peaceful protest, what happened inside the Capitol on Wednesday was
not a protest, it was an insurrection. It is the exact opposite of what we teach our students. Anyone
who participated must bear the very serious consequences of their actions.
Thankfully, despite the violent attempts to undo the will of the American voters, democracy
prevailed. We will teach our students about this moment for years to come and will work to restore
their faith in the fidelity of our nation’s peaceful transfer of power.

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OPEIU, Local 17 • American Federation of Teachers • Local 279 • OFT • AFL-CIO