What is Project Veritas - read here
Letter from Don Mooney:
Today an operative of the anti-union group Project Veritas attempted to enter the CFT/CFOP office by falsely representing that she was seeking help for her “brother” who she claimed worked at Aiken High School. She was turned away after refusing to name her “brother”. This apparent attempt to gain access to CFT’s office and staff is part of a nationwide effort of Project Veritas to infiltrate union organizations and obtain membership data, or embarrassing or compromising information, often recorded surreptitiously on video or audio. Fortunately, Field Representative Karen Imbus detected this fraudulent activity and the attempt was unsuccessful. But the threat from Project Veritas is real and ongoing.
We have learned through OFT and AFT that Project Veritas agents have approached union officers and representatives at union offices, union meetings and in schools around the country and in Ohio in recent weeks. Just this week, a Project Veritas agent entered a public school in Lordstown, Ohio. Our Area Representatives and Building Representatives should activate our CART teams ASAP and alert them to this threatening anti-union activity. Members should be asked to be vigilant and report suspicious activity.
The Project Veritas operatives have used this approach here at our office and other schools: They say they are asking for help for a “friend” or “relative” who is a teacher who they refuse to identify. They may suggest that the unnamed teacher has been accused of abusing or assaulting a student, and ask what the union would say or do to defend the teacher. The goal of these activities is to undercut the reputation of our union and profession by suggesting that teachers are predators and that unions protect predators.
Our message to you, which should be passed to all of our members is:
— Be on the look out for suspicious activity of this type.
- Do not offer advice or guidance to someone claiming to be asking on behalf of a teacher. Offer advice or guidance only to teachers you can confirm work for CPS.
- DO NOT ENGAGE in a conversation or answer their questions. THEY COULD BE RECORDING YOU.
- Ask for an ID or drivers license and take a photo of it.
- Use your cell phone to take a photo and/or video of the person.
- Get license plate, make and model of their vehicle.
- Notify CFT’s office immediately.
Above all - DO NOT ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION OF WHAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
If you have any questions, call Field Representatives Don Mooney (513-641-0629) or Karen Imbus (513-709-5919).
Don Mooney