Long Beach Teacher John Solomon on Leave After Racist Photo In Union Group Chat

PublishedOctober 2, 2025

John Solomon shares a racist image in a union group chat relating to Black and special needs children.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A Long Beach teacher and union leader is on leave after sending a racist and ableist text that targeted Black children and students with disabilities. John Solomon, a teacher at MacArthur Elementary and secretary of the Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB), allegedly sent the text in May to a group chat with fellow union bargaining team members.

The message included a photo of a Black child on a toy box wearing an ankle monitor with the message “We need this for our runners!” The word “runners” is often used to describe special education students who leave classrooms without permission.

One member in the chat immediately called the message “troublesome on many levels.” Solomon’s number responded: “Yeah. I see that.”

Solomon has denied sending the message, claiming his phone was hacked. But a three-member union panel said that explanation was “not credible.” The committee found that Solomon continued texting from the same number and that multiple members documented the incident.

John Solomon, Long Beach teacher and union leader on administrative leave after sending a racist text targeting Black children and students with disabilities.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson joined Councilmembers Joni Ricks-Oddie and Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, along with leaders from Long Beach City College and LBUSD board member Erik Miller, in demanding Solomon resign.

In a joint statement, they called his behavior “unacceptable, harmful to Black students and students with disabilities, and unworthy of any leader in education.”

Despite the pressure, Solomon has refused to step down from his position as union secretary. He resigned from the bargaining committee earlier this summer but has dismissed the investigation as a “kangaroo court.”

That refusal has triggered a recall effort. To remove him, 25 percent of TALB’s 3,700 members must sign a petition. If enough signatures are gathered, a special election will be held, and a majority vote would be required to oust him.

Union leaders say their hands are tied until then.

LBUSD itself declined to investigate. A complaint was filed in August, but district officials later said the issue fell “outside the scope” of their authority. However, as of October 2, Solomon has been placed on administrative leave. The district declined to give details, citing personnel rules, but said it remains committed to creating safe schools.

The scandal comes as TALB continues difficult contract negotiations with the district. Teachers rejected a tentative agreement earlier this year, and a new bargaining team is still in talks. For many, the issue is about more than one text. Parents and teachers say it reflects a culture that still struggles with racism and accountability within LBUSD.