BREAKING: ROCKWOOD TEACHERS UNION RESPONDS AFTER A SUPPORTER OF THEIR CANDIDATES WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO REMOVING AN OPPONENT'S SIGNS.
The RNEA announcement, posted minutes ago, appears to be a response to an incident that went viral March 5th, 9 days ago.
The incident was caught on video. It shows a Rockwood mom taking yard signs that promote Izzy Imig, a candidate for Rockwood's school board.
Imig, along with Jessica Clark and Charles Messmer, is running against the candidates that the RNEA is publicly endorsing.
The RNEA (Rockwood National Education Association) is the district's teachers union. The union made the announcement on the union's Facebook page:
"As there are concerns with candidates' campaign signs being removed from private property, I want to issue a public statement that the RNEA does not encourage or condone such behavior. It is not tolerable and should not be performed. Let us remain respectful and kind to each other during this election season."
Aside from a press release stating the endorsement, you can see the profile picture on the union's page (and in the screenshot) includes their candidates' names (Amy Ryan and Deborah Stine).
In the video linked above, Jessica Risenhoover is seen carrying Imig signs on her way walking to another Imig sign that she attempts to remove as the property owner stops her.
Risenhoover proceeds to argue with the property owner on camera that she is allowed to move the sign because of where it is (on common ground) and that she's "going to be" a trustee for that neighborhood. The property owner has provided information that the sign is on his property, not common ground. Police were called to the scene. No word on any legal action.
Persons involved in the incident say the signs already in Risenhoover's arms were removed from another homeowner's yard, that was placed on the grass between the sidewalk in front of the house and the street.
Using the pseudonym, "No Right Turn in Education," Risenhoover has publicly disparaged Imig and Clark on social media.
In a response to a comment on its facebook post about the video, the RNEA responded, "I don't know about any of that...I do know someone made me aware that signs were being taken down and asked me to make a statement."