Teachers Strike in Chicago
Before this year, Chicago teachers had not gone on strike for 25 years. With 675 public schools and 402,000 students, this nine-day strike forced churches, park day camps, and public libraries to care for thousands of young people. According to the teachers, the dispute was as much about winning resources for their students as it was about their own working conditions. On Oct. 2, the teachers union voted to accept a new contract—good for three years—with Chicago Public Schools, thereby ending the strike.
Benghazi US Consulate Attacked
U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens was killed after unidentified assailants stormed the embassy in the eastern city of Benghazi on Sept. 11. Three other Americans were killed in the attack. Stevens died of smoke inhalation after an armed mob set fire to the consulate building. The White House called the killings a terrorist act. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that her office was responsible for security at the consulate in the Benghazi.
General Petraeus Resigns
Former CIA Director General David Petraeus, a decorated four-star general, resigned Nov. 9 after it was revealed that he was involved in an extramarital affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell. Petraeus publicly confirmed the affair. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) described the situation of Petraeus leaving office under such circumstances as “a heartbreaker.” She said that the timing of his resignation had nothing to do with the investigation into the assault on Benghazi, Libya.
