January 22, 2023
"A night of celebration in Monterey Park--at a dance club after a nearby Lunar New Year celebration--turned into a scene of horror and devastation, and families are now left shattered.
"The shooting in Monterey Park, leaving at least ten dead and ten more injured, marks another catastrophic mass shooting that has become all too common in our nation.
January 20, 2023
In response to the District's announcement of a lawsuit challenging the facilities oversight legislation passed in City Council in May, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:
PHILADELPHIA-- "It is disappointing that the District has chosen to challenge a duly passed law geared precisely towards addressing the ongoing facilities crisis in our schools. For years, this union has fought tirelessly to address the ongoing issues of lead, asbestos, mold, and other environmental hazards.
January 16, 2023
"Every year on Dr. King's birthday, I think about the legacy he left, the life he led, and the horror of his assassination. Dr. King's fight for equity and justice continues to reverberate to this day, with a reminder of the progress we have made and the enormous amount of work ahead.
"Just this week, we learned of the death of Keenan Anderson, following a traffic stop in Los Angeles. His death speaks, once again, to the inherent dangers of being Black in America. It should not have to be said that a traffic stop should not be a death sentence. We are thinking of Keenan Anderson’s family, his students, and all of those who knew and loved him.
December 23, 2022
Dear PFT Members,
As we close out the final week of school before a well-deserved break, I want to thank you for your ongoing solidarity, your commitment to our students, and for being part of our collective fight for a better tomorrow. Take a look back at just some of our 2022 here.
December 2022
PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has published its 2022 Year in Review, outlining images, stories, videos, member messages, and news releases from an historic year.
The year has been one of tireless advocacy and fighting for justice. Throughout the look back at the year, it is clearer than ever that our union is deeply committed to fighting for what is right. We have advocated around and drawn the connections between so many issues: ending the crisis of gun violence, fighting for a woman's right to make healthcare decisions, ending racism and bigotry in all forms, fighting for resources for students and advocating for the schools our students and members deserve, and so many more.
On the 2022 Year in Review, PFT President Jerry Jordan said the following:
"I am so proud of the work of this union this year and every year. Collectively, we have pushed forward amidst trying times, and we have never stopped in our pursuit of justice and equity. In the joy and in the sadness, our solidarity unites us, strengthens us, and moves us forward."
On December 14th, PFT joined CeaseFirePA's vigil in honor of the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook mass shooting and in honor of the 15,000 lives of Pennsylvanians stolen by gun violence in the ten years since then.
Speakers at the event included:
Roz Pichardo (CeaseFirePA)
Chante Love (EMIR Healing Center)
Dennis Carradin (The Trauma Survivors Foundation)
Meredith Elizalde (mother of Nicolas, and PFT member)
Rev. Tonya Waller-Waddy
Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight (Mothers In Charge)
Adam Garber (CeaseFirePA)
Michael Reed
At the vigil, Meredith Elizalde read a poem she authored in honor of her son Nicolas, "What Does the Green Bird See?" Meredith began by saying, "Dedicated to Nick Elizalde: The greatest honor of my life was to be your mother. The second greatest honor of my life was to hold you as you died. May we all be blessed to see the world and our role in it, as you did. Rest in power."