Metro

Teachers union head calls Garner death ‘teachable moment’

Blasted for leading his members to rally against the NYPD, the head of the city teachers union declared the chokehold death of Eric Garner a “teachable moment” for the entire city.

“We are determined to make something good out of this horrendous situation and not polarize communities,” United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said Saturday.

“The police do a very difficult job. We respect that,” he said, appearing at the Rev. Al Sharpton’s Staten Island march against police brutality.

Many UFT members have slammed Mulgrew for supporting what they saw as a protest against the NYPD.

But Mulgrew insisted the UFT supports the police.

“This is not anti-cop. Justice must be colorblind,” Mulgrew said.

“It is time for us to show the entire country that New York City can solve tough issues by dealing with tough issues,” he said before the crowd of about 2,500.

Around 200 to 300 UFT members attended. Many members from Staten Island chose to skip it.

Cindi Panarella, a special-education teacher and UFT chapter leader at PS 44 in Mariners Harbor, blasted her union’s participation.

“It’s so biased against the cops that it’s pathetic,” she said. “They’re with Sharpton. He’s nothing but a rabble-rouser. I’m very embarrassed, very disillusioned. This is dead wrong.”

Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, said those who criticize the UFT over the rally misunderstand.

“In this polarized society, they think people are attacking all police officers,” she said. “This is about respect, dignity and healing.”