The UFT will pay a heavy price for sponsoring the Rev. Al Sharpton’s anti-cop rally on Staten Island — as a growing number of teachers vow to cancel their contributions to the union’s political action committee.
The UFT’s Committee on Political Education, or COPE, raked in more than $6 million between Jan. 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission.
But ever since the union announced its support last week for a protest over the police chokehold death of Eric Garner, hundreds of members have used the UFT’s own Facebook page to publicly sever ties with COPE.
“I would like a refund on my COPE contributions,” Jaime Russo Sclafani wrote. “It makes me sick that I donated money from my paycheck to support and provide transportation to march against the very people who keep us safe.”
Other posters listed contact information for the COPE office and a form letter to cancel payroll deductions that fund the powerful lobbying organization.
The UFT didn’t return requests for comment.
Tuesday’s announcement by Staten Island DA Dan Donovan that a special grand jury would hear evidence in Garner’s death had no impact on plans for Saturday’s protest, and law-enforcement sources said the NYPD was working hard to ensure it remained peaceful.
A high-ranking source said the recent rioting in Ferguson, Mo., over the police shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown “is on the minds of everyone.”
“It’s of definite concern what’s happening down there . . . We don’t want another Ferguson on Staten Island,” the source said.
The source also noted that “Sharpton is bouncing back and forth from Ferguson to the city and now he’s having this rally on Staten Island. So we’re going to be ready.”
As many as 15,000 protesters are expected to show up, and merchants along the march route said they were preparing for the worst.
Ebdo Ali, manager of the Wedyan Food Deli on Stuyvesant Place, said he planned to close the store once he saw marchers approaching, which will likely cost at least $1,000 in receipts.
“You never know what’s going to happen — the windows could get broken, people could come in and steal, or take things and throw them at the cops,” said Ali, 36.
Lori Honor, owner of Honor Wines on Bay Street, said she also planned to close her store, despite the fact that Saturday is usually the busiest day of the week.
“Even if it goes smoothly, there’s no access for our customers,” she said. “We may have to re-open Sunday to recoup our losses.”
Meanwhile, outraged educators plan to wear NYPD T-shirts on the first day of school next month to show support for New York’s Finest.
“I will be wearing a NYPD shirt proudly,” said Raymond Cottrell, 54, a science teacher at IS 24 in Manhattan. “I do not agree with my union supporting the march.”
Additional reporting by Jennifer Bain and Dana Gibbs