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Alderman Repeats Use Of Racial Slur To Slam Removal Of Principal Who Blasted Emanuel

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago alderman is not backing down from his use of the N-word in criticizing the ouster of a popular elementary school principal who is an outspoken critic of Rahm Emanuel; in fact, he's doubling down on his profane denunciation of the mayor.

To say Ald. David Moore (17th) was blunt in his reaction to the removal of Troy LaRaviere as principal of Blaine Elementary would be an understatement. He repeatedly used the N-word to explain how he views the situation.

"Yes, I used the word n***** to highlight what myself and many people in this city of all races believe to be a – not the – but a dictatorial authority engineering of Troy LaRaviere's ouster. In this context, the word n***** was purposely used as an evocative metaphor," Moore said.

The alderman said he neither regrets nor apologizes for using the N-word.

He first used the word in a Facebook post last week, slamming the decision to remove LaRaviere from his post.

"All I hear is, stay in your place N-----, and don't you dare challenge the DICTATORIAL AUTHORITY designed to put corporate profits over effective public education," Moore wrote on April 21. "Not one elected official, who cares about the education of our children, should remain silent about this DICTATORIAL move!"

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Moore said racist policies and political retaliation were behind LaRaviere's ouster, but he didn't stop there.

"As I listened to the voices of my constituents, the Troy LaRaviere saga is yet another plot in the 'N*****, stay in your place' short stories to which many black people can relate and contribute," he said.

Moore said he believes LaRaviere was removed as principal of Blaine for repeatedly criticizing Emanuel and his handling of the Chicago Public Schools.

"If you speak out against corrupt practices, you will be fired," he said.

LaRaviere has frequently criticized Emanuel and what he sees as corruption and incompetence in the Chicago Public Schools system. He campaigned for Emanuel's opponent, Chuy Garcia, in the 2015 election, and earlier this year, he appeared in a TV ad for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

"In Chicago, we have endured a corrupt political system and the chief politician standing in the way of us getting good schools is our mayor," LaRaviere said in the ad.

After LaRaviere was ousted, the Sanders campaign issued a statement that took a swipe at Emanuel.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that a school principal is facing politically-motivated retaliation because he dared to stand up to the mayor of Chicago," Sanders said in a prepared statement. "The only explanation for his removal appears to be Mayor Emanuel's unhealthy obsession with taking revenge."

CPS officials have not publicly explained why LaRaviere was removed from his post, other than accusing him of "alleged actions of misconduct," and saying he violated a previous warning by the Chicago Board of Education. The August reprimand of LaRaviere amounted to a formal censure, and it is often a first step in a process that could end in termination.

Emanuel has said he had nothing to do with the removal of LaRaviere from Blaine.

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