CITY HALL — Ald. David Moore on Friday called on CPS to reinstate Troy LaRaviere as principal at Blaine Elementary School, refusing to back down from using an incendiary racial term in criticizing LaRaviere's ouster from the job.
"We definitely want Troy to be reinstated," Moore (17th) said at a City Hall news conference.
After news of LaRaviere's removal broke last week, Moore posted on his Facebook page that the message it sent from CPS was: "Stay in your place n-----." Moore has not removed the post.
"Neither do I regret, nor apologize" for using the N-word in initially criticizing LaRaviere's removal, Moore said Friday.
"You have to state what your residents are feeling out there," Moore said. "You cannot sugarcoat what your residents are truly feeling. And this is what I hear from residents."
Moore defended his language, saying, "In this context, the word ... was perfectly used." Yet he eased off on charges of racism, saying, "I think he was reassigned because he was challenging the policies," and the same could happen to any CPS employees who "speak truth to power."
But at the same time he drew parallels in the "same racist policy and culture" in CPS as in the Police Department, saying they're "being used to kill our children academically."
Moore charged that LaRaviere was removed as principal of Blaine in Lakeview "with no explanation and without due process." He called it "retaliation to his willingness to speak publicly and candidly about how poor education policies in this city have continued to harm our children and our communities."
According to CPS officials, a private disciplinary hearing for LaRaviere that had been set for Friday was postponed at the ousted principal's request.
Moore claimed the support of Ald. John Arena (45th), state Sen. Jackie Collins (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) in demanding LaRaviere be reinstated.
"This issue, however, is bigger — and I mean much bigger — than Mr. LaRaviere and me," Moore said. "This is about deciding what kind of school system we want for our children."
Moore called for due process in any CPS discipline, autonomy for principals, that critics of policy be rewarded — not punished — and improvement in the district's overall "climate and culture."
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has denied charges he had anything to do with the ouster of LaRaviere, an outspoken critic of both the mayor and his appointed Board of Education who also backed Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Chicago) for mayor against Emanuel last year.
CPS has declined to fully lay out its charges against LaRaviere, calling it a personnel matter. Yet he was issued a formal warning about insubordination last year, and district officials have alleged "dereliction of duty [and] violations of state and CPS ethical policies."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
