Tell our governor to stand against antisemitism in schools, on campus

Earlier this month, the National Education Association’s (NEA) Representative Assembly, an annual gathering of the nation’s largest teachers’ union, passed a “new business item” calling for a boycott of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a widely respected Jewish organization that has long served as a national leader in anti-hate education in K-12 schools and is recognized as a foremost expert on antisemitism. Fortunately, the NEA leadership recognized the harm this boycott would cause and quickly vetoed it.

Fill out the form below to send a message to our Governor urging action to protect Jewish students and prevent bias against Jewish educators in our state.

Dear Gov. DeSantis

This is not merely a union matter. The larger issues of growing antisemitism in our educational sphere remain. The vote, along with reported instances of harassment and intimidation of Jewish teachers at the NEA’s Representative Assembly, reflects a troubling effort to marginalize Jewish voices from civil society at a time when antisemitism is dramatically on the rise, including in our schools.

Since 2020, antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools have surged by 434%, with 1,162 incidents reported to the ADL in 2023 and 860 reported in 2024. We know these numbers represent only a fraction of reality, as most incidents go unreported.

According to the Jewish Federations of North America, many Jewish high school students report that expressing their identity could lead to verbal abuse, physical danger, discrimination, or social exclusion. Some now feel compelled to hide who they are in order to feel safe at school.

As Governor, you play a vital role in ensuring that every student in our state, regardless of background, can attend school free from fear, discrimination, or hate. Our laws require it, and our morality demands it.

We urge you to use your leadership to protect Jewish students and all students by taking the following steps:

* Publicly condemn antisemitism and affirm that hate has no place in our state’s schools.

* Ensure state agencies are enforcing Title VI protections and similar state laws, which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal funds.

* Work with state and local education leaders to review curriculum and training materials to ensure that Jews, Judaism, and Israel are presented accurately, age-appropriately, and without bias.

We deeply appreciate your commitment to the well-being of students across your state. In this moment of rising hate, your voice and your leadership are more important than ever. We would welcome the opportunity to speak further and work together to make our schools places where all students — including Jewish students — can safely learn, grow, and thrive.

Sincerely,
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