United Teachers Los Angeles made a significant decision on Monday night when it rescinded its endorsement of school board candidate Kahllid Al-Alim. The reason cited for this withdrawal of support was the revelation of offensive social media activity by Al-Alim, including posts that were antisemitic, pro-gun, and pornographic in nature.

In a statement released after the decision, the union expressed its condemnation of all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, antisemitism, anti-Blackness, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and homophobia. This move by the union came as a blow to Al-Alim’s campaign to represent District 1, which covers much of South Los Angeles and southwest L.A.

Al-Alim, who had initially declined to comment on the matter, is expected to issue a statement addressing the situation on Tuesday. The decision to withdraw the endorsement was made during an emergency meeting of the union’s 250-member House of Representatives, following the suspension of on-the-ground campaigning on behalf of Al-Alim.

To officially retract the endorsement, the union had to follow a multistep process that lasted about two weeks, involving its endorsement team, Political Action Council of Educators, Board of Directors, and finally the House of Representatives. The union stated that its member leaders acted decisively as new information came to light.

Despite the ongoing process, Al-Alim continued to be promoted in online union endorsements and campaign materials distributed to voters during the final days leading up to the election. The teachers union had invested over $690,000 in an independent campaign supporting Al-Alim, as reported in records filed with the L.A. City Ethics Commission.

Al-Alim issued a series of apologies in response to the controversy, acknowledging the complex history between Black and Jewish communities and expressing a commitment to learning from the situation. However, during a campaign forum, he took a different stance, stating, “I’m not ashamed of anything.”

The union’s statement reflected a willingness to engage in dialogue and learn from the incident, viewing it as a valuable learning opportunity for both UTLA and the wider community. Al-Alim had secured the union’s endorsement after a lengthy process, based on his track record as an education and community activist aligned with the union’s policy positions.

With six other candidates competing for the vacant seat in District 1, the withdrawal of support from UTLA also reverberated in the decision of the L.A. County Federation of Labor to suspend campaign activities on behalf of Al-Alim. This symbolic action by the county’s union movement underscored the significance of the situation.

One of the contentious social media posts by Al-Alim praised an antisemitic publication by the Nation of Islam and advocated for its inclusion in L.A. schools. Additionally, he had liked posts supporting individuals facing backlash for antisemitic remarks, further intensifying the scrutiny on his online activity.

As the election process continued with voting underway since Feb. 24, Al-Alim’s campaign finances and level of support were scrutinized. While the union had heavily funded his campaign, Al-Alim’s own fundraising efforts tallied $31,736 during the reporting period.

Among the other candidates in the race are Sherlett Hendy Newbill, Christian Flagg, DeWayne Davis, Didi Watts, John Aaron Brasfield, and Rina Tambor. Each candidate brings a unique perspective and background to the election, with varying levels of support and endorsements.

Outside of UTLA, independent funding efforts have also been significant, with a notable investment of $520,493 on behalf of candidate Didi Watts. This funding, originating from Sacramento-based political action committees and a charter schools PAC, highlights the diverse financial support shaping the competitive race in District 1.