July 22, 2024
Randi Weingarten
American Federation of Teachers
555 New Jersey Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-2079
Via Email: rweingarten@aft.org
Dear President Weingarten,
We, the undersigned representatives StandWithUs and CAMERA Education Institute, write to you with deep concern about the environment for Jewish attendees at the upcoming AFT Convention in Houston.
Based on recent events and what we have heard directly from AFT members, we believe urgent action is needed to ensure that the Convention is safe and welcoming for all Jewish delegates.
Jewish educators and students have been deeply impacted by the escalation of antisemitism following the October 7th Massacre in Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas. The ADL reports a 360% increase in antisemitic incidents since that horrific day – a broader societal trend which has played out in disturbing ways in institutions of higher education, K-12, and in health care settings. The result is that many Jewish AFT members fear for their safety and that of their families.
The AFT Convention should foster professional growth and collegial support, not become a platform for more division and hostility. We have heard from educators who are apprehensive about being dehumanized or harassed on the basis of their heritage, support for Israel’s right to exist, and for other real or perceived aspects of their Jewish identity. This includes fears of being harassed by colleagues at the Convention. At the recent NEA Convention protestors organized by the NEA Educators for Palestine prominently displayed a flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The PFLP is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, and its members have been responsible for significant terrorist attacks and plane hijackings throughout history. Members of the EFP Caucus passed out keffiyehs and broke other rules of decorum for the gathering. What is the AFT doing to prevent similar disturbances moving forward?
In AFT’s recent resolution calling for an “end to the weaponization of hate,” AFT writes:
“We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring our work and teaching environments are safe and welcoming for the people we represent and those we serve, and to promoting a democratic education that builds understanding and mutual acceptance across different religions, races and ethnic groups.”
Yet among resolutions being voted on at the Convention this year are several that are highly problematic, with some employing language that is commonly used by anti-Zionists and antisemites to attack Israel and Jews. It is also hard to understand why a domestically-focused teachers union is selectively weighing in on foreign policy matters that have nothing to do with worker’s rights, better pay, and better conditions for the professionals who make up the AFT.
Resolution 27 mischaracterizes the internationally accepted IHRA Definition of Antisemitism as a force for censorship instead of a tool designed to help consider, in context, whether something may or may not be antisemitic. Contrary to what the resolution states, criticizing Israel or the actions of its government are NOT considered antisemitic under the IHRA definition. Indeed, many Israelis and American Jews routinely engage in criticism of Israeli policies, and we do not consider that to be antisemitic.
Resolutions 33, 34, and 36, and 37 clearly meet that threshold, as they seek to punish Israel through divestment as it acts in self-defense against a ruthless terrorist organization, Hamas, which on October 7, 2023 brutally murdered 1200 people, including children and babies; raped women; and took hostages, 120 of whom are still in Gaza. Hamas is trying to win the war not militarily but through the media by hiding among civilians, deliberately placing civilians in harm’s way, withholding food and medical aid from the Palestinian people, and lying about casualty numbers. Yet Resolution 36, which seeks a halting of military aid to Israel, cites casualty numbers since retracted by many of the sources, as the data came directly from Hamas.
Resolution 38 conflates protected free speech with certain conduct that crossed a line into harassment, intimidation and vandalism during unauthorized encampments that threatened the safety of Jewish staff and students throughout the past spring.
These resolutions label Israel’s self-defense campaign a “genocide,” an offensive term common in anti-Zionist and antisemitic circles, that inverts the Holocaust in order to falsely accuse Israel of seeking to eradicate the Palestinian people. Indeed, Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that Israel’s fight is with Hamas – and not the Palestinian people – and there is a well-documented effort by the Israeli military to alert Palestinian civilians in advance of bombing campaigns and coordinate the delivery of foreign aid to civilian populations, often at great risk to Israeli soldiers.
Other problematic language in these resolutions embody the propaganda, gaslighting, and denigration that Jewish teachers, staff, healthcare workers, and students have experienced since October 7th.
We urge the AFT to take decisive and comprehensive actions to ensure the safety and inclusion of Jewish members at the Convention. These antisemitic resolutions should not be voted on: a tiny minority of delegates should not be forced to defend their existence to a body riled up by inflamed rhetoric and lies. We therefore ask that you table these highly problematic resolutions, ensure Jewish delegates feel safe and secure, and take appropriate measure against those who break the rules of decorum during the Convention.
We look forward to your prompt response and to working together to address these pressing concerns.
Sincerely,
David Smokler
Director of K-12 Educator Outreach
StandWithUs
Steve Stotsky
Director of the CAMERA Education Institute
