AFT’s Weingarten Slams Fake ‘Freedom Foundation’ Report

WASHINGTON-AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement exposing an error-riddled document from a far-right activist group released today:

"The so-called Freedom Foundation has spent decades collecting tens of millions of dollars in dark money to attack teachers and their unions. These extremists, funded by undisclosed and unaccountable billionaires, have one mission-to silence the voice of workers.

"Today, they published a purported analysis of union expenses that is so wrong on the facts as to be embarrassing even for them. They claim that legal fees for a 2024 court case in New Hampshire defending teachers' right to teach and students' right to learn are somehow related to my book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers, published last year. They flagrantly misrepresent the duties of a communications consultant for the union. They decline to acknowledge that all proceeds from the book are shared equally with the AFT. For the Freedom Foundation, the truth is no obstacle-the only thing I'm surprised about is that it took them so long.

"Educators need people making the public case for them and for the essential work public schools do to prepare our students for their lives and the nation they will inherit. This group trashes those values every day-and then attacks us for fighting back.

"The Freedom Foundation, by embarking on this fact-free fishing expedition eight months after the book's release, with a shameless assist from another anti-union, anti-teacher vehicle, the New York Post, has only proven the need for the ongoing, vigorous defense of educators, public education and democracy-and that Fascists Fear Teachers."

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The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.