As the standoff between city government officials and the Chicago Teachers Union over reopening the Windy City's public school system has now reached the White House, the CTU released a video over the weekend that has received pushback.
The video features six of the Chicago public school system's dance teachers, expressively depicting their yearning for safety as they are being pressured to return to work. The performance, shot in various locations, is entitled "The Moment We're Safe."
A voiceover accompanies the choreography:
Make it make sense.
Safety is essential.
Keep our Students and Teachers Safe. Safe.
It's our livelihood versus our lives.
Safe.
In this moment, be safe. Safe.
Our children deserve to be safe.
We want to feel safe. Safe.
We want to feel safe.
Safe return, or no return.
The responses to the video were not overly supportive.
President Biden voiced support for the union, telling reporters that all parties need to be convinced that "school is safe and secure for everyone."
"The teachers, I know they want to work," Biden said. "They just want to work in a safe environment, and as safe as we can rationally make it, and we can do that."
The Chicago Teachers Union is a local affiliate of the national American Federation of Teachers.
