“Athena Clarke Launches NYC Council Bid to Restore Justice for Fired Workers”

Athena Clarke, a lifelong Brooklyn resident, proud mother, and former NYC public school teacher, is officially the Republican candidate for New York City Council in District 46, appearing on the ballot this November. Clarke is running on a bold platform of justice, accountability, and transparency, with a clear call to action: Reinstate & Compensate.
Born to Jamaican immigrants and raised in the heart of the 46th District, Clarke’s journey from local schools to the classroom reflects her deep roots in the community. She attended P.S. 203, Roy H. Mann Middle School, and Sheepshead Bay High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College and a master’s in School Building and District Leadership from Touro College.
Clarke taught for seven years as a tenured educator in the NYC Department of Education and authored a children’s book to inspire young learners. But in 2021, her life took a sharp turn when she was terminated without due process after declining the Covid‑19 vaccine. Her dismissal, despite tenure protections, ignited a commitment to speak out against what she calls “a dangerous precedent of government overreach.”
“No one should be forced to choose between their conscience and their livelihood,” Clarke said. “The government trampled on people’s rights—those who were fired must be reinstated, and those who were coerced into taking the vaccine should be compensated for this violation of bodily autonomy and freedom.”
As a City Council candidate, Clarke is committed to:
- Fighting for Due Process: Ensuring no NYC worker or contractor is stripped of protections without fair and legal proceedings.
- Backing Resolution 5: Supporting the full reinstatement and back pay for employees fired over vaccine non-compliance.
- Holding Government Accountable and Transparent: Demanding clarity in policy, restoring public trust, and ending the culture of unchecked authority.
Clarke positions herself not as a career politician, but as a concerned citizen stepping up to correct systemic wrongs.
“I am one of you. I’ve felt the sting of injustice. That’s why I’m running—to make sure it never happens again.”
With the slogan “Reinstate & Compensate”, Clarke is building a movement to restore fairness in city governance and to stand up for those who were silenced.
“On November 4, 2025, vote for your rights. Vote for truth. Vote for Athena Clarke.”
To donate to her campaign, visit here: https://contribute.nycvotes.org/campaigns/athenaclarke/contributions/new